“...why wasn’t the disease brought back by others? Chance? WSas it only the Columbus crew that had a sexual encounter with a disease bearer?”
The European predecessors to Columbus were so small in number....far north...and out of touch with mainland Europe (I’m thinking the Vikings under Leif Ericson...or St. Brendan before them) that they weren’t a factor. Columbus opened the door to all of mainstream Europe, through the major monarchs there, to interact with the Americas—unlike any that came before.
Given that the Icelanders (Leif Ericson) immediately established tiny colonies of families on Newfoundland...it’s possible too, with their wives there...that the men didn’t have sex with the Indian women...or if they did, the northern tribes didn’t have the STD’s of the Caribbean.
I don’t see why its such a touchy subject...STD’s are just a disease—and different diseases originate different places. The fact that new FLU strains almost always comes out of China today...doesn’t say the Chinese are any worse (or better) people than anyone else.
Differences in settlement patterns too. The Spanish and Portuguese, due to the perceived danger in the New World, refused to send women over (unlike the Vikings)...to establish regular colonies—this is why very (very) early Spanish and Portuguese mixed, sexually with the Indians—as they had no women with them.
Human nature...oh well.
Within 10 years of Columbus too, there were many dozens (hundreds?) of other ships that came over...as he set off kind of an exploration race.
Hundreds of Spanish and Portuguese men—within a very short time—went to the Americas, and came back....with the disease. It wasn’t as if Columbus’ crew itself was responsible...rather the whole open door to a previously isolated world.
The Spanish too, sent whole armies over to explore and conquer (Conquistadors...), and for something like 30+ years NO WOMEN allowed by law. Hence virtually all...who could...had Indian mistresses, or just one night stands.
I heard one Latin American scholar estimate by the late 1500s upwards of 100,000 mestizos existed...considered lessors to the Europeans, and superior to the Indians. Caused ALL KINDS of social problems which continue to exist to this day.
A very different pattern in Latin and Central America than our English colonies later established in the North.
However, the article claims, "The evidence keeps accumulating that a progenitor of syphilis came from the New World with Columbus' crew and rapidly evolved into the venereal disease that remains with us today."
That's why I questioned as I did.