Pulse Virus

Pulse Virus was the name given to two separate man-made pathogens used by the Galactic Empire: the PV-U1 strain and the PV-Y5 strain. The viruses were named because the pulses of those afflicted continued to beat for up to a week after death. The U1 variant caused heart failure in Humans within minutes of contact with the bloodstream, while the Y5 variant could lay dormant for one month before taking effect. U1 was created by Imperial scientists and was used for lethal injections for death row prisoners on Coruscant. Y5 was used in 17 BBY during the Reconquest of the Rim when it was released on the Outer Rim desert world Burinne, whose Human population maintained Separatist sentiments since the Clone Wars.