Look in the English dictionary under the word “plague.” The British journalist in a general-reader newspaper used it in that sense, not with the scientific distinction you are trying to draw. Sounds like the whole sophormore dorm is determined to distract from the issue by straw-men arguments. No more need be said. The recombinant discussion above is the only sound scientific comment that merits reader attention.
As to the dictionary, laymen's dictionaries are next to useless in technical discussions. Competent discussions of recombinance involving viruses should avoid at all costs any reference to bacteriological pathogens, en passant or otherwise. There is absolutely no need for or use in risking muddying the discussion by using the term 'plague' in a generic, as opposed to disease-specific, sense in such a discussion.
This sentiment applies with equal force to 'journalists' who write on technical matters, whether in a general-readership publication or not.
''No more need be said,'', eh? Fine, you can cease your defense of an indefensible botch any time.