In the early 1970s, the United States faced a bizarre outbreak dubbed the “Chinese Chia Pet Virus,” sparking a nationwide scare in 1973. The virus, allegedly linked to imported novelty Chia Pet planters, released airborne spores that, when inhaled, caused small patches of plant growth to sprout on human skin. The strange and unsettling symptoms led to widespread panic, business closures, and the declaration of a national emergency as health officials scrambled to contain the outbreak. Fortunately, the virus abruptly subsided with the onset of winter, as cold weather rendered the spores inactive. Though short-lived, the crisis became a peculiar chapter in American public health history.