Shanti virus

Shanti virus
Molly's virus shows on a monitor.
First mentioned:	Six Months Ago

The "Shanti virus" is a life-threatening disease that attacks the blood cells. One of its side effects is that it prevents evolved humans who have the disease from using their abilities. Shanti Suresh is the first known victim.

About

Seven Minutes to Midnight

After Chandra's funeral, Mohinder first learns from his mother about his sister Shanti, who died from the virus two years after he was born.

Homecoming

During a dream, Mohinder witnesses a conversation Nirand and Chandra have about Shanti and her death--Nirand tells him to let go.

Six Months Ago

Chandra tells Mr. Bennet about a genetic defect in his daughter, Shanti, which resulted in her untimely death and his interest in evolved humans. Chandra calls the mutation a "genetic anomaly".

The Hard Part

Thompson tells Mohinder about Molly and her virus, which Shanti also had. Thompson explains that the virus destroys the nervous system. Mohinder is unable to find a cure, until he realizes that he is the cure. He gives Molly a sample of his blood.

Landslide

Healed, Molly's ability is unlocked, and she proves it by locating Matt Parkman.

How to Stop an Exploding Man

Mohinder tells Mr. Bennet that the antibodies in his blood are what cured Molly.

Molly relapses and Mohinder gives her another transfusion. Though Mohinder says it will take some time work, Molly is able to access her power.

Graphic Novel:Blackout, Part 1

Mohinder, inside a New York City hospital, finds a teenage patient who is an evolved human. Believing that he has the same illness as Molly and his sister, Mohinder gives his own blood to the patient. The blood appears to cure the patient and release his ability.

Graphic Novel:Blackout, Part 2

Mohinder realizes that the teenage patient never had the virus, and the reason for the patient's problems is that he has not learned to control his ability.

Four Months Later

Mohinder gives a presentation in a Cairo lecture hall. He urges the visitors to fight to secure human evolution. Later, Bob convinces Mohinder to work for the Company on a cure for the virus. He also hints that Mohinder would be a hero if the virus spread to the unevolved population and he had a cure.

Lizards

Mohinder is sent by Bob to Haiti to treat a man who is exhibiting the exact same symptoms that victims of the virus exhibit. This man turns out to be the Haitian. At first, the Haitian refuses to be treated by Mohinder, saying that because he abused his powers, they are now taken away by God and he is suffering for his past actions. Mohinder finally persuades the Haitian to take a transfusion of his own blood. Later, Mohinder is unsure whether the antidote worked, and it is revealed later that it did work, as Mohinder finds suddenly finds himself with Bob without any recollection of how he got there. Bob says that the Haitian erased Mohinder's memory, and that the antidote did work.

Notes

• The exact name of the virus is unknown. NBC called the illness the "Shanti virus" in a promotional video.
• The characters who have been infected by the virus are:
  • Shanti Suresh (Homecoming, Six Months Ago, The Hard Part)
  • Molly Walker (The Hard Part)
  • The Haitian (Lizards)

• So far, whether the disease is contagious or just a congenital condition is not known.
• Antibodies extracted from the blood of Mohinder Suresh have cured at least one victim of the disease, Molly Walker. Mohinder initially thought a teenage patient might also have the virus, but determined he was wrong after trying to cure him with his blood did not have the desired effect.
• In his lecture in Cairo, Mohinder implies that this illness only effects evolved humans. (Four Months Later)

Fan Theories

Please refer to Theory:Shanti virus for fan-created theories and other speculation.