Details:

Alternative Title:
Emerg Infect Dis
Publisher's site:
http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid0912.030288
Personal Author:
Marr, John S. ; Calisher, Charles H. ;
Marr, John S. ; Calisher, Charles H. ; Less -
Description:
Alexander the Great died in Babylon in 323 BC. His death at age 32 followed a 2-week febrile illness. Speculated causes of death have included poisoning; assassination, and a number of infectious diseases. One incident, mentioned by Plutarch but not considered by previous investigators, may shed light on the cause of Alexander's death. The incident, which occurred as he entered Babylon, involved a flock of ravens exhibiting unusual behavior and subsequently dying at his feet. The inexplicable behavior of ravens is reminiscent of avian illness and death weeks before the first human cases of West Nile virus infection were identified in the United States. We posit that Alexander may have died of West Nile virus encephalitis.
Subject:
[+]
Alexander The Great
Famous Persons
Historical Review
History, Ancient
Retrodiagnosis
West Nile Fever/history
West Nile Virus

Source:
Emerg Infect Dis. 9(12):1599-1603. ;
Document Type:
Journal Article ;
Name as Subject:
Alexander, the Great, 356 B.C.-323 B.C. ;
Place as Subject:
Greece, Ancient ;
Collection(s):
Emerging Infectious Diseases
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:c37475b2edd607098b44dbc89e813cb9733f4c97ae758d30a3477958c1c48678
File Type:

Supporting Files

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