Sickness

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You can help by investigating this topic and editing this article to include more information. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page.
Further details: Investigate technical mechanics of sickness:

What determines when a villager is sick, and how they are selected for this?

What happens with sick villagers during multiplayer in Doubutsu no Mori e+?

Can sick villagers be kicked out when using e-cards or amiibo to move in new villagers in Doubutsu no Mori e+ and New Horizons?

This article or section requires further research.

You can help by investigating this topic and editing this article to include more information. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page.
Further details: Investigate technical mechanics of sickness:

What determines when a villager is sick, and how they are selected for this?

What happens with sick villagers during multiplayer in Doubutsu no Mori e+?

Can sick villagers be kicked out when using e-cards or amiibo to move in new villagers in Doubutsu no Mori e+ and New Horizons?

Audie feeling feverish in New Horizons

Sickness is an in-game element introduced in Doubutsu no Mori e+ that can afflict villagers. Villagers can become sick, which causes them to shiver (and sometimes show the 'sadness' emotion) and stay in their houses. In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the affected villager will be sweating instead of showing the sadness emotion. When a villager is sick, they will not have normal conversations with the player, and they will only talk about being sick. They will often act delusional when sick, talking about fictional things as if they are real.

Appearances

Doubutsu no Mori e+ to New Leaf

While sick, villagers will remain in their house and will not go outdoors, nor will they participate in events or ceremonies. The sickness dialogue will override all other dialogue, so sick villagers cannot ask for favors, nor can any favors requiring the player to speak with them be performed. In Doubutsu no Mori e+, Wild World, and City Folk, a sick villager cannot be selected by the game to move out of the town. This is possible to occur in New Leaf, however, due to an oversight (see below).

In New Leaf, villagers may inform the player that another villager is sick. But in Doubutsu no Mori e+, Animal Crossing: Wild World, and Animal Crossing: City Folk, the only indication that a villager may be sick is that they do not appear outdoors.

While villagers are sick, they will act accordingly and will request medicine, which can be purchased from Tom Nook's shop or the Nookling Stores once a day. Selecting the option to give medicine will prompt a negative response if the player has no medicine in their pockets. Giving medicine will prompt the villager to remark on how bad it tasted, or will say that they are starting to feel better, and will thank the player.

Villagers will gradually recover from their illness, but will recover faster if they are given medicine. Sickness usually lasts for three days if medicine is given every day. Once the villager has recovered, they will reward the player with an item the following day (either in person, or via letter) if the player helped nurse them through their illness.

New Leaf oversight

In New Leaf, it's possible for a sick villager to move out without warning. Due to an oversight, the game is able to select a sick villager to become a pending leaver, and as the villager will remain indoors, there is no opportunity for them to alert the player outdoors about their intention to move. Because the player also has no opportunity to convince them to stay, they will proceed to move out after 5 days. Because of this oversight, the sickness feature is removed in Animal Crossing: New Leaf - Welcome amiibo, and villagers can no longer become sick.

In Animal Crossing: New Horizons

In New Horizons, sick villagers will wear pyjamas and a nightcap. As in previous games, the sick villager will remain indoors at all times for the duration of their illness, and their dialogue will change to reflect their condition. Villagers around town may inform the player that a specific villager hasn't been seen, signalling that they may be sick.

Unlike previous games, a sick villager will be cured immediately after being given medicine, and will give the player a gift right away. However, if the player's pockets are full, the villager will send the gift to their mailbox the following day. The villager will then go into a state of convalescence; they will remain indoors for the day wearing their pyjamas, but will be able to ask the player for favors and engage in more regular conversation. A recuperating villager will also express their gratitude to the player for receiving medicine.

While sick, the villager's house cannot be relocated or redecorated. If the player attempts to do so, Tom Nook will decline the request and instruct the player to wait until the villager has recovered.

If a sick villager's amiibo is called in Happy Home Paradise, the player will be informed that they are "not feeling their best today" and they will not appear. Additionally, if the affected villager is assigned to work at a facility, a random villager will fill in for them, stating that the villager called into work sick.

Sickness during multiplayer

The games handle villager sickness during multiplayer differently. In Animal Crossing: Wild World, a sick villager is instantly healed when the player opens the town gate. In Animal Crossing: City Folk, Animal Crossing: New Leaf, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the villager will lock their house when the town gate is open, leaving a sign notifying that they are ill and not receiving visitors.

In other games

In Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer and Happy Home Paradise, random sick villagers will appear as patients in the hospital after the player designs the facility. They will generally complain about their condition, or praise or criticise the staff for the level of care they are receiving.