There are countless diseases that have troubled us in the past which we are immune to, or are not present insufficient numbers to get a foothold. This can change if a new more potent strain develops, or a population with an immunity to a virus transmits it to one that has no defense. A virus is more likely to affect a person that is already unhealthy, and by defeating their immune systems a virus becomes more potent. A virus is never defeated. It is just pushed to the background to strengthen it's defenses.

!!

This isn't news to wake up to.

Turns out that the bubonic plague is no stranger to New Mexico in recent decades. I doubt I'd know that if, almost 40 years ago, I hadn't first heard an explanation for why the Albuquerque yearly convention of prox 500 folks was called Bubonicon.

They'll still explain the reason to anyone who asks, or at the drop of a hat (whichever comes first), and this August will be their 39th annual convention.