You know what would be different?
IF I USED THIS SPACE TO TALK ABOUT STAR TREK!
So, basically, I want you to think for a moment about what "vegan choriomeningitis" might be. It TOS, it's a disease that Kirk had previously had, and was used to try and reintroduce the concept of death to an immortal, overpopulated race of aliens.
This is my thoery, but it is crack. Does anyone have a better idea?