A Flesh-Melting Contagion is a contagion that turns victims' flesh translucent and caused their flesh to literally melt off of their bodies. The contagion was released aboard Flight 627, leading to the first official investigation of The Pattern. A new Fringe Division was formed to study The Pattern after the compound was found to have connection to Dr. Walter Bishop. FBI Agent Olivia Dunham contacted Bishop's son, Peter, to release his father from a mental institution, thus forming Fringe Division.