Re: Avian Flu and "The Black Death" of the Middle Ages

>Jason, you need to read the info.
>It states the formation of buboes where it gets it's name. What viral
>infection do you see this associated with in which the lymph node busts open
>and weeps with bacteria? Have you seen this with HIV?
>The pneumonic form can cause transmission from person to person. The primary
>form is from vector to host.
>Bacteria evolve with increased or decreased virulence. This has happened
>with a variety of bacteria including scarlet fever

Robert,

I am much aware of the particuliar symptom you described above. I have
contacted both my state's resident epidemiologist, as well as several
other epidemiologists. Some dismissed this offhand, other found this
theory intriguing and even brought up evidence which could support
such. Also, the swelling and rupturing of the lymph nodes is indeed
not just caused by "Bubonic Plauge". It is also apparant in many
Hemoraghic Fevers, such as Ebola, and several other viral infections,
although the reasons for such differ in bacterial pathogens vs.viral
ones.

Also, do consider that symptoms experienced by the infected during the
1918 Flue Pandemic. They are quite remarkably similiar to the symptoms
of "The Black Death", not the bacteria we identify with said disease
today, but the actual symptoms noted during that time in history.

One epidemiologist even flat out told me thus:

"Most of us (epidemioligists) are conservitive in our views in a
professional sense. However we do toss around theories and hold
personal opinions that often do not agree with the accepted answers
people are most likely to hear. When it comes to the topic of "The
Black Death", I am personaly convinced that it is quite similiar to
"Biblical Leprosy". Biblical Leprosy was not limited to our modern
disease named Leprosy. Instead, the "Biblical" version was a
coglamoration of various diseases, disorders, conditions, birth
deffects, often completely normal and temporary in nature. Most, if
not all, of these were non-infectious."

My response was "So you are saying that "The Black Death" was most
likely caused by many diseases which were then lumped under one
header?"

"Yes, that is my personal theory. If this is indeed the case then I
would most definatley include Influenza in the mix."

So Robert, I think you were caught up with the pathogen responsible for
the disease we know as "Bubonic Plauge" today, but my post was
concerning an alternative proposal to the pathogen actualy responsible
for "The Black Death". Also realize that most epidemiologists firmly
believe that "The Black Death" was caused by the bacteria that we all
were taught was responsible. However, this belief is lacking in
sufficient proof to remove all doubt. Base upon my communication with
the particuliar epidemiologist above, I have sence agreed and adopted
that particuliar view point, that "The Black Death" was most likely not
caused by one single pathogen spreading all over the known world.
Since "The Plague" occured in waves seperated by years and decades, it
is most likely that multiple pathogens were responsible and were only
later lumped together under "The Black Death".

-Jason

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