Pestilence

I asked Merril what I should write about.  She said the first word that came into her head was “pestilence.”  Such a joyous topic - NOT.  So, if you do not like this, blame her.  If you enjoy it, thank me.
Please be warned.  A portion of this makes for depressing reading.  The sort of thing that could make someone want to shut their doors and never go out.  Except maybe for insecticide.
I did learn there was a band called Pestilence.  I guess they did not play uplifting music.  Some of the groups that they spawned were “Cannibal Corpse, Carcass and Napalm death” to name a few.
I guess Covid 19 could be classed as pestilence.  A worldwide pandemic.  The lockdowns may be over, but it is still out there.  I have four friends that have either recently had it or have it now.  In Victoria today there were a couple of thousand new cases.  Some seem to get it really mildly while others suffer big time.
I guess it should not surprise that things are becoming more common.  Toady Monkeypox was reported for the first time in Australia.  A couple of people (independent of each other) brought it in from Europe.  Its cousin is smallpox.  It produces a rash and flu like symptoms.  It got its name because there was an outbreak in monkeys used in research.
There have been a few cases of Japanese encephalitis in Australia very recently.  It is common in the Torres Straights and places where there are heaps of mosquitos.  People get it by being bitten by them, and it is a communicable disease.  It is being monitored in this country now.
Then there is the current flu outbreak in this country which is said to be one of the worst ever.  That sort of surprises me as with covid we really learned how to wash our hands and liberally apply anti-bacterial lotion.  No wonder some are still wearing masks.  Not a good look, but possibly wise.
I know someone who contracted Ross River fever and has had all sorts of problems since.  I don’t like that name as Ross River is the river of my hometown of Townsville.  A lot of these flu’s apparently are named after the place they are first detected.
Poor old Spain.  The Spanish flu apparently would have first been in the US.  Those that got it were first detected in Spain around of World War 1.  It’s spread was amazing.  Apparently many returning soldiers brought it back with them.  In Australia they tried to contain it, but they have traced the spread from someone who travelled from Melbourne to Sydney.
I guess it should not surprise there are outbreaks.  This time was to be marked by pestilence.  I just did not expect it to be happening before my eyes.