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Alexander the Great and West Nile virus encephalitis

John S Marr1, Charles H Calisher

  • 1Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, VA, USA.

Emerging Infectious Diseases
|January 17, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Alexander the Great may have died from West Nile virus encephalitis. Unusual raven behavior and deaths before his illness suggest an early encounter with the virus.

Area of Science:

  • Medical History
  • Epidemiology
  • Veterinary Pathology

Background:

  • Alexander the Great's death in 323 BC at age 32 followed a two-week febrile illness.
  • Historical accounts mention unusual raven behavior and deaths preceding Alexander's demise.
  • Previous investigations into his death have excluded this avian incident.

Discussion:

  • The raven incident mirrors avian deaths preceding human West Nile virus (WNV) outbreaks.
  • This parallel suggests a potential early WNV transmission event.
  • Plutarch's account, previously overlooked, provides a crucial link.

Key Insights:

  • West Nile virus encephalitis is proposed as the cause of Alexander the Great's death.
  • The behavior of ravens serves as a potential epidemiological marker.
  • This offers a novel perspective on a historical mystery.

Outlook:

  • Further research could explore ancient environmental factors and disease vectors.
  • Investigating WNV's historical presence in the region may provide more evidence.
  • This hypothesis opens new avenues for understanding ancient pandemics.

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