Troops’ Pneumonia Outbreak Spurs Medical Hunt is an account of several unusual pneumonia cases seen in soldiers stationed throughout the Middle East.

The article is fascinating for several reasons. First, the description of the medical detective work involved in finding the cases and identifying their common elements is an engaging, real-life mystery tale. Second, the most interesting commong thread in the cases — recent uptake of cigarette smoking — is of professional and personal interest to me. And finally third, the idea that a new diseased caused by something that’s been around for a century is intriguing. Although this possibility is discounted by the article, the very notion is fascinating.