Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD DSc(hon)(@PeterHotez):Actually no, the Roman Empire was undone by two types of malaria, vivax and falciparum that made the Romans chronically ill and growth stunted, followed by a third hit from the Antonine plague (most likely smallpox) 166-180 CE introduced by returning Roman armies from Seleucia (Mesopotamia). Two additional plagues didn’t help. Bottom line it was failure to control pandemic threats, which undid the Roman Empire, and now we’re making the identical mistake.

Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD DSc(hon)

@PeterHotez

Texas Medical Center (TMC) Professor-Vaccine Scientist-Author; Member, Philosophical Society of Texas and TAMEST; Dallas Morning News Texan of the Year 2022

参加 May 2012

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Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD DSc(hon)@PeterHotez

2026.08.22 02:43

Actually no, the Roman Empire was undone by two types of malaria, vivax and falciparum that made the Romans chronically ill and growth stunted, followed by a third hit from the Antonine plague (most likely smallpox) 166-180 CE introduced by returning Roman armies from Seleucia (Mesopotamia). Two additional plagues didn’t help. Bottom line it was failure to control pandemic threats, which undid the Roman Empire, and now we’re making the identical mistake.