West Nile and the Death of Alexander

[xxx]

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol9no12/ ... 288.pdfFor those interested. There are some holes in this theory, but it is a pretty decent article nonetheless.

[iskander_32]

Here we go with the West Nile Virus again,or shall we call it the discriminatory virus that just seemed to nail Alexander and Hepheastion.If thids actually did occur as a virus we should have expected pockets of macedonians falling to it or even wholescale outbreaks and following Alexanders death Ptolemy would have kept an eye on his vital Macedonian soldiers and if numbers were dropping I am sure he would have been concerned for his own position and would have included such demises in his writings, but there is no mention of any.But I keep forgetting Triple xxx is and expert on diseares and ilness.regards Kenny

[xxx]

Kenny, West Nile and Malaria are not 'contagious' in the correct sense of the word nor are they viruses. They do not pass from person to person. They require the bite of an infected mosquito. Not everyone would have been infected and in fact since we don't read of his generals being infected I would say that it was unlikely he suffered from a contagious virus. It is my contention that Alexander was already compromised due to the accumulation of stress and injury, he was not taking care of his health as he continued to drink during his illness. I do think the death of Hephaistion did play a part in his behavior. I would say I see nothing to indicate he did not contract malaria, probably of the falciparum variety which often has a fatal outcome. I think Renault's version of malaria bringing on pneumonia is very likely. Falciparum malaria can be fatal - the cerebral form is fatal and causes neurological deterioration (and some have said this was probably responsible for his inability to speak or move much toward the end) and pneumonia is a common complication and would bring on a high unremitting fever as presented in the diaries. Regards,Tre (who has found xxx easier to type of late).

[xxx]

I should have said not a contagious virus per se. My apologies.

[beausefaless]

Here's one for the record,Bucephalus did not die from old age and battle wounds he died from a mosquito bite carrying the West Nile Mung. My joke for the day!

[susan]

Yes indeed - I believe that the authors have visited this site today. I still think it was malaria, or, basically, that his time had come.Susan