Vegan choriomeningitis was a disease caused by a bacteria. It was deadly to humanoids if not treated.
Specifics
After contracting the disease, an onset of symptoms occurred from four to 24 hours later. Symptoms included headache from inflamed brain tissue, rigidity of the neck, a tingling sensation in the lower back and arms, high fever, chills, rapid pulse and respiration, and eventually back spasms. Immunization was possible. It was fatal if not treated within 24 hours by an antibiotic. (ST references: Star Fleet Medical Reference Manual, Worlds of the Federation, FASA RPG module: Star Fleet Intelligence Manual, TOS novel: The Captain's Oath)
History
In the late 20th century, Vegans inadvertently created the disease microorganism synthetically. It triggered a plague called the "Green Death" which devastated Vega IX. (ST references: Star Fleet Medical Reference Manual, Worlds of the Federation)
In 2160 at the University of Pennsylvania, a scientist attempted to use the DNA of certain lizards from Ekkenda IV to develop a cure. Bryce Shumar was familiar with those efforts. (ST novel: Starfleet: Year One)
Sometime prior to 2265, James T. Kirk contracted and nearly died from Vegan choriomeningitis, afterward becoming a noncontagious carrier of the microorganism. (TOS episode & Star Trek 6 novelization: The Mark of Gideon, FASA RPG module: Cadet's Orientation Sourcebook, TOS - Crucible novel: Provenance of Shadows)
In 2265, following his trip to Capella IV, Doctor Leonard McCoy worked with Starfleet Surgeon General Harris Eggleton at Starfleet Medical on a choriomeningitis vaccine. (TOS - My Brother's Keeper novel: Constitution)
In the year 2268, the leaders of
infected their people with the disease to reduce their population. The planet's population of ~ 500 billion eventually dropped 96%. (TOS episode & Star Trek 6 novelization: The Mark of Gideon, ST reference: Star Trek Maps, FASA RPG module: The Federation)
In 2273, McCoy was working on a cross-species cure when he was recalled to active Starfleet service by Heihachiro Nogura in response to the V'Ger crisis. (TOS - Crucible novel: Provenance of Shadows)
Around 2369, Morn contracted Vegan choriomeningitis, although it was highly unusual that he had. Julian Bashir was able to treat Morn and rid him of the disease. (DS9 - Invasion! novel: Time's Enemy)
In 2375, there was an outbreak of Vegan choriomeningitis on Lysia. (TNG - Gateways novel: Doors Into Chaos)
Information about the disease could be found in the USS Voyager's computers by 2376. (VOY video game: Elite Force)
In 2377, Linda Feeney died from the disease while aboard the hospital ship
Appendices
References
- TOS episode & Star Trek 6 novelization: The Mark of Gideon
- TOS - Crucible novel: Provenance of Shadows
- TOS - My Brother's Keeper novel: Constitution
- TOS novel: The Captain's Oath
- TNG - Gateways novel: Doors Into Chaos
- TNG novel: The Genesis Wave, Book 3
- DS9 - Invasion! novel: Time's Enemy
- ST novel: Starfleet: Year One
- FASA RPG module: The Federation
- FASA RPG module: Star Fleet Intelligence Manual
- FASA RPG module: Cadet's Orientation Sourcebook
- VOY video game: Elite Force
- ST reference: Star Trek Maps
- ST reference: Star Fleet Medical Reference Manual
- ST reference: Worlds of the Federation
External link
- Vegan choriomeningitis article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.