SCP-049 - What Actually is the Pestilence? The Plague Doctor Questions and Theories (SCP Animation)

SCP-049 is a Euclid Class anomaly also known as the Plague Doctor.

The Plague Doctor is one of the most mysterious creatures in SCP Foundation containment. Where did he come from? How old is he? Is he a human or something else entirely? Is he powerful enough to kill SCP-682 the Hard to Destroy Reptile? And most importantly, what is "The Pestilence" that he is on a constant quest to cure? And why do his methods seem to always end in death? Today we're looking at all of these and more in this explainer of SCP-049 The Plague Doctor and all of the questions, theories, and hypotheticals about one of the most famous and frightening of the anomalies known to the SCP Foundation.

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SCP-049 Plague Doctor (SCP Animated) by TheRubber

SCP-682 Indestructible Creature (SCP Animated) by TheRubber

Please let us know in the comments which SCP's we should cover next

#scpexplained #scp #animation

[willropa]

Hmm, why not ask SCP-5094 "Miss J" to teach what "The Pestilence" is? She seems to be able to know anything and be capable to teach anything to anyone, she might be able to do what Plague Doctor refuses to do.

[deusexvesania]

Anyone: coughs
SCP-049: loads shotgun with medical intent

[thechillgameplaychannel]

What if the foundation asked scp 049 to lecture younger children on the pestilence? He would clearly know that they don’t know what it is so he would probably give them general and useful information.

edit: to clarify he would not be seeing them directly. he would be helping the scp foundation to make a short video on what the pestilence is and how to stop it from spreading.

[daisygurl]

I think the pestilence is the “fear” of death. That’s probably why when he came the foundation he noticed a lack of it. Being faced with death so often probably numbed them to it

[arlogleich]

Mobile Task Force: **Bursts through door** THERE HE IS, THAT'S THE GUY THATS BEEN KILLING EVERYONE
SCP-049: DON'T SHOOT, I'M WITH THE SCIENCE TEAM

[somememeguy]

Honesty, I appreciate the Plague Doctor’s attempts to heal people. He’s just trying to help!

[comrademason]

they should try taking a picture of him with the camera that shows your deepest desires. that might shine some light on the mystery

[unicornforever]

If he is unable to physically touch another living being without them dying, meaning he can't control it. Maybe his bringing his victims back from the dead is his way of working around his killing touch. He doesn't want to kill others, but he really wants to cure "the pestilence, " caring more about that than killing others and he needs to touch others to work on curing it. So when he inevitably kills another being, he works on their body to try to bring them back without the pestilence.

[detectivespot]

Here's my theory, the "pestilence" is the fear of death and hes curing it. (In a way)

(2:27) When he entered the site he complemented the staff of how little "pestilence" there was. Maybe meaning that most of the workers there knew what dangers lie inside the site and weren't afraid of dying.

Also his "cure" allowed his victims to become not dead, but undead, perhaps ending their fear.

Just my theory.

[jamesmorris]

The pestilence is fear, when Jacobs was interviewing him the Dr was going to kill him. But when Jacobs was ready to die no longer afraid of death and willing to face the pain the Dr promised him would come, the Dr stayed his hand stating the pestilence had receded

[hyldandan]

Scp 049 actually called shy guy ‘child’ you see when he touched scp 096 or looked at him he calmed down a bit but when they escorted scp 049 out of 096 cell 096 began to cry even more

[koopatroopagamer]

I feel like if I were a scientist in the organization, I would push for the further study of the actual identity of the pestilence. If its really as dangerous as 049 states, its not impossible that it could end up being a K-class end of the world scenario in the future.

[blobo]

My hypothesis is that 049 is specifically targeting the lazy. When a scientist was with 049. He said he was going to take a break. That's when 049 got aggressive and killed him. Since the SCP foundation is very hard working 049 sensed little to no laziness. Hence why hes so cooperative

[Not_Diamond]

If you die when skin to skin contact is made with 049 and his 'outfit' is part of his skin, does that mean you could be killed by touching any part of him?

[eddysha]

I think the Pestilence is the fear of death, Thanatophobia, after all, humans are the only creatures that can have a phobia, and Thanatophobia would be rare to find in the SCP Foundation

[jartist]

My theory of the Pestilence is that it's self doubt. It wasn't until Doctor Hamm started to question himself if he could get answers of what the Pestilence is when 049 started to behave aggressive.
Plus, because at the time, the SCP that apprehened 049, they knew the importance in what they did and believed in themselves, hense why 049 stated 'there is so little Pestilence here'
Also, since the zombies he creates have, (as far as we know) no sense of 'self', 049 would see them as 'Cured' though not perfect because they are no longer human.

[egocentricblack]

Why doesn't the foundation give him a pill from scp 500 for him to study? Maybe he can study it and make a cure that doesn't have the side effect of death.

[fellowtemplar]

He tries to cure the fear of death, not death itself. Some people don't fear death and that's why he spares them.

[ajd]

I think SCP - 096's psychic ability to know who has seen his face from continents away is the same way 049 is able to find out who has the pestilence. The reason he cant explain and refuses to explain is because its like instinct and he thinks that all the doctors and scientists have the same instinct like its hard for us to explain what happened in a dream or our imagination except for him its more real. he might have fantasy prone personality where he cant differentiate reality from fiction and if someone says his fiction doesnt exist thats when he gets violent.

[wayspookyu]

How does 049 react to questions from people who don't have a background in medical education? For instance, how would he react if a child were to ask him what the Pestilence is? While the Pestilence maybe common knowledge, it would be reasonable for a child to not know about it or how it works.