Environmental conditions and subtle mutations suggest that this variant of the Kharaa bacterium's rate of transmission is somewhat lower than that of the widespread outbreak previously reported on 4546B.
The bacteria's capacity to survive for a long period of time off of the leviathan's corpse suggest highly efficient saprophytic properties. Scans indicate that the pustules are merely the visible component of a dense bacterial network feeding off of the dead cells of the leviathan.
Despite the risk, further research is recommended.