Almean diseases
Almean diseases
One of the things that surprises me about Almean history is the lack of discussion about disease (unless I am forgetting something in the Almean Atlas, which I haven't viewed in a couple years). What are the characteristics of the major diseases of Almea, how and where did they originate, and where and when did particularly severe epidemics occur? Further, are there diseases that, e.g., only flaids get but not humans, or vice versa? And in keeping with their advanced technological state, have the iliu conquered all the diseases that might have once afflicted them?
Io wrote:Seriously, do you take it as an obligation to be the sort of cunt you are?
- GreenBowTie
- Lebom
- Posts: 179
- Joined: Wed Oct 09, 2002 3:17 am
- Location: the darkest depths of the bone-chilling night
The original Atlas was thin on this sort of thing, but I've tried to be more aware of it since. There were major plagues noted in the Skouras atlas and at several points in Arcel's history. (One major point, of course, was the colonization of Fananak when the continents exchanged devastating plagues.)
I hadn't thought about inter-species diseases, but I like the idea, especially as it could impart a general reluctance for dealing with other species. Don't pine after the elcari in the mountains, boy, you'll get sick.
I hadn't thought about inter-species diseases, but I like the idea, especially as it could impart a general reluctance for dealing with other species. Don't pine after the elcari in the mountains, boy, you'll get sick.
If the illness in question has similar symptoms to anthrax, I imagine a myth about amorous Elcaril might be used to explain to your wife those pustules you get when you go into the mountains with no one to keep you company but your goatszompist wrote:I hadn't thought about inter-species diseases, but I like the idea, especially as it could impart a general reluctance for dealing with other species. Don't pine after the elcari in the mountains, boy, you'll get sick.
[quote="Nortaneous"]Is South Africa better off now than it was a few decades ago?[/quote]
Doesn't that seem less likely then diseases that are species-specific? Considering the genetic diversity I find it unlikely there will be many diseases that can only effect one species but use another species as it's reservoir. I'm not saying it won't happen, I just think that there will be more diseases specific to only one species. Therefore, hanging out with a more species diverse group would actually be safer.zompist wrote:I hadn't thought about inter-species diseases, but I like the idea, especially as it could impart a general reluctance for dealing with other species. Don't pine after the elcari in the mountains, boy, you'll get sick.
Although considering how closely related all of the Homonids are to each other I imagine many of their diseases will spread to each other.
Interesting thought: the Almean equivalent of HIV originating with (say) the icëlani.Atom wrote:Although considering how closely related all of the Homonids are to each other I imagine many of their diseases will spread to each other.
Salmoneus wrote:(NB Dewrad is behaving like an adult - a petty, sarcastic and uncharitable adult, admittedly, but none the less note the infinitely higher quality of flame)
- Nortaneous
- Sumerul
- Posts: 4544
- Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2009 1:52 am
- Location: the Imperial Corridor
But are all the species that can transmit it affected by it? It's pretty well established (maybe even more common) for one species to carry it and be unharmed. So a more species-diverse group would be more unsafe; you can still get sick from everyone, but you don't know who will get you sick. (Yeah, that could happen within one species if the incubation period is long enough, but it's more likely if there are more species.)
Siöö jandeng raiglin zåbei tandiüłåd;
nää džunnfin kukuch vklaivei sivei tåd.
Chei. Chei. Chei. Chei. Chei. Chei. Chei.
nää džunnfin kukuch vklaivei sivei tåd.
Chei. Chei. Chei. Chei. Chei. Chei. Chei.
Flu travelled from the first domesticated horses to humans and somewhere along the way has also managed to infect birds, pigs and who knows what else.
Viruses are very good at adapting.
Viruses are very good at adapting.
[quote="Dewrad"]Oh god. It's like having a [i]really eager puppy[/i] bouncing on your chest when you're hungover.[/quote]
- Salmoneus
- Sanno
- Posts: 3197
- Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2004 5:00 pm
- Location: One of the dark places of the world
Almost all of the major big diseases originally came from other species. Yes, the closer the species the more likely the jump (in general), but jumps will still happen.
Blog: [url]http://vacuouswastrel.wordpress.com/[/url]
But the river tripped on her by and by, lapping
as though her heart was brook: Why, why, why! Weh, O weh
I'se so silly to be flowing but I no canna stay!
But the river tripped on her by and by, lapping
as though her heart was brook: Why, why, why! Weh, O weh
I'se so silly to be flowing but I no canna stay!
- Niedokonany
- Lebom
- Posts: 244
- Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2007 10:31 pm
- Location: Kliwia Czarna
I also suspect it's the jump event that contributes to their "majorness". Subsequently, as alleles enabling individuals' immune systems to deal with them spread in the population, they become less dangerous. There is also some selective pressure choosing the less virulent pathogen types since they don't kill off their hosts too quickly to spread effectively.Salmoneus wrote:Almost all of the major big diseases originally came from other species. Yes, the closer the species the more likely the jump (in general), but jumps will still happen.
uciekajcie od światów konających
I see. In the case of such closely related species as the Hominids I can certainly understand all you points, although I think that if you analyzed a mixed-species town versus a homogenous town, I think the mixed species town would come out better since there is more genetic diversity, so no plague could hurt all the inhabitants. So more dangerous for the individual, less dangerous for the society.
However, what about the ktuvoki and illiu? They seem quite different from Hominids. Maybe that's another benefit of living in a ktuvoki ruled society, the fact that you've shrunk your pool of possible disease carriers, since your ruler can't give you diseases.
However, what about the ktuvoki and illiu? They seem quite different from Hominids. Maybe that's another benefit of living in a ktuvoki ruled society, the fact that you've shrunk your pool of possible disease carriers, since your ruler can't give you diseases.
- Yiuel Raumbesrairc
- Avisaru
- Posts: 668
- Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2005 11:17 pm
- Location: Nyeriborma, Elme, Melomers
While they may pass bacteria (since they use cells as food), viruses are out of the question, since they need functional DNA and, well... zompist claimed that Almean DNA doesn't work the same way as Terran DNA.justin wrote:I'd think the Elenicoi would have brought a few alien bacteria with them in the Translation, no?
Then again, we don't know what happened in that Translation, the miracle might have done a bit more than just Translate people from one world to another.
"Ez amnar o amnar e cauč."
- Daneydzaus
- Daneydzaus
Is there much interspecies sex? I know Zomp's mentioned that humans can have a kind of perverse fascination with icëlani, and there seems to be a certain eroticism around the ilii, but would (say) an elcar ever do a human?Entwistle54 wrote:What about interspecies STDs?
(I'm assuming that nobody would want to do it with ktuvoki, not least due to not having the right set of organs.)
Salmoneus wrote:(NB Dewrad is behaving like an adult - a petty, sarcastic and uncharitable adult, admittedly, but none the less note the infinitely higher quality of flame)
- Yiuel Raumbesrairc
- Avisaru
- Posts: 668
- Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2005 11:17 pm
- Location: Nyeriborma, Elme, Melomers
Tentacles?zompist wrote:That's only because the Japanese haven't discovered Almea yet.Dewrad wrote:(I'm assuming that nobody would want to do it with ktuvoki, not least due to not having the right set of organs.)
---
We could wonder if there are any Flaids humanlike (luckit) enough to perhaps enjoy it. Or humans flaidish enough... It would seem to me the closest possible.(Especially in the Neziora.)
"Ez amnar o amnar e cauč."
- Daneydzaus
- Daneydzaus