The article notes "the Pasteurella bacteria generally lives harmlessly" in antelopes, but became more virulent, possibly because of above-average temperatures.

The article notes "the Pasteurella bacteria generally lives harmlessly" in antelopes, but became more virulent, possibly because of above-average temperatures. There's also a mention that the elephants were likely stressed because of drought conditions. Those facts suggest a link to climate change, and could be a bit of a canary-in-the-coalmine for humans and infectious diseases.