Synopsis
Contagion follows the rapid progress of a lethal airborne virus that kills within days. As the fast-moving pandemic grows, the worldwide medical community races to find a cure and control the panic that spreads faster than the virus itself. As the virus spreads around the world, ordinary people struggle to survive in a society coming apart
Plot
Beth Emhoff (Gwyneth Paltrow) goes to Hong Kong on a business trip to participate in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new factory. While in Hong Kong, Beth visits a casino and plays a dice game with colleagues from the plant. Once the ceremony is complete, Beth flies back to her husband, Mitch Emhoff (Matt Damon), and son Clark Morrow (Griffin Kane). Later that night Beth collapses on the floor in what appears to be a seizure. Beth is rushed to a Minneapolis-area hospital for treatment and succumbs to an unknown cause. Mitch is informed that his wife has passed away and is asked to come in the next day to give information regarding possible causes of Beth's death. Mitch's only assistance is that Beth complained of jet lag.
Dr. Ellis Cheever (Laurence Fishburne) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention manages an investigation into thirty-two disease related deaths, all exhibiting similar symptoms. He sends Dr. Erin Mears (Kate Winslet), an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer to Minneapolis to begin the investigation and traceback. Dr. Mears struggles to identify common aspects of the disease, interviewing almost all of the initial cases, and those around them. Back at CDC, representatives from the Department of Homeland Security become involved over fears that the disease is a bioweapon. In one exchange, Dr. Cheever deadpans that avian flu didn't need human intervention to become deadly - the birds and virus did it on its own. Investigations into cures via treatment protocols or vaccines prove fruitless. As the contagion spreads, hearings are set up to discuss possible solutions, airports within the state are shut down, and the national guard is deployed to Minneapolis to cordon off the city, set up treatment centers and provide general order. In an effort to quell public concern, Dr. Cheever appears on a news talk show to discuss the disease; only to find out that the show hypothesizes a billion person outbreak around the globe.
Over the course of her investigation, Dr. Mears becomes infected with the disease, now dubbed MEV-1. She discovers this after waking in the middle of the night in her hotel room exhibiting a fever, sweats, and other initial signs and symptoms of MEV-1 infection. Despite her illness, she continues to do her duty as an EIS officer, requesting the information for all hotel employees who have contacted her in an apparent attempt to stem the spread of the infection. The Minnesota National Guard arrives to quarantine the city, and Dr. Mears is moved to the field medical station she helped set up. Dr. Mears contacts Dr. Cheever for assistance in egressing the city. Dr. Cheever attempts to mount an effort but is thwarted by others viewing his efforts as a nepotistic play.
Meanwhile, fearing the cordoning efforts Mitch and his daughter head north from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area east to the Wisconsin state line. Arriving at the Minnesota/Wisconsin border, Mitch and his daughter encounter a choke point manned by National Guard troops preventing anyone from leaving the state. Mitch returns home to handle the aftermath of surviving in a society coming apart.