Peru--Meteorite Reported to Have Caused Illnesses

In a story that broke in wee hours of the morning of September 18, first reported by the AFP (Agence France Press) a meteor that crashed to the ground in Peru was responsible for making several people ill including seven policemen who were taken to a local hospital.

One might recall the original "War of the Worlds" movie in which a Martian invasion emerged from smoking projectiles that plummeted to the ground.







Scientists have pondered the possibility for years that objects from space might well bring new microbial life to the surface of the Earth. We found it odd that such a report made the news as we have been following stories about falling projectiles for years and have yet to find one that included illness as a result of impact, except for one. In 2001, particles fell to the ground in India and scientists speculated that they may well have been germs from space. "Authorities received reports of 'red rain' 3 hours later. Intermittent rust-colored rain showers occurred for 5 to 6 weeks after the event."

Interestingly, we discovered that the ancient Aztecs feared such events: "...because they were afraid they would be hit by a meteor, develop an infection, and die." We are often told by the press that backward peoples of third world countries aren't worth trusting because they're so likely to panic in reaction to unknown phenomenon. Along this line of reasoning is an official press release from the Regional Health Director for Puno, Peru in which the seriousness of any illness is downplayed. "There aren't any serious cases, but the substance from the object could affect (the people) in the long term, that's why apart from these tests, it will be necessary to follow up the cases in the next few months"

The recent meteor impact in Peru is minor compared to the many that have been documented around the globe over the years. If you feel the chances are slim of a large meteor impact in your neighborhood are slim, take a look at the Earth Impact Database map for North America.
You'll see that the entire U.S., and much of the globe, is pock-marked with hundreds a impact craters much larger than the recent one in Peru.

So this may well be another one of those flash in the pan stories that disappears as quickly as a meteorite flashes across the sky, but it certainly raises an apocalyptic scenario that we don't hear much. Earthlings wiped out by disease from space!