You're too funny with the cellphone and ants!
Yes, I agree with you there are all kinds things going on that we don't know about. This is one of the reasons why I wanted to started posting a "News" portion here for people -- infectious diseases, parasites, fungi, etc. I think it will be helpful to many.
http://www.nbc6.net/newsnet/14113765/detail.html
"The disease is caused by a single-celled parasite called Leishmania, and special cultures must be done in order to confirm the diagnosis of leishmaniasis."
Here's what that Baghdad Boil looks like.
"The article says, "These sores usually last for 6 to 12 months and because they are often mistaken for a staph infection, patients may have been given multiple courses of standard antibiotics without success." This is disturbing.""
Yes, I couldn't agree with you more. I don't know too much about this parasite other than what has been reported. There is a very good possibility that the slow healing process has more to do with the fact that "treatment" is ineffective once the parasite burrows into the skin. From what I gather, it seems as though people are being treated for a dermatology problem and there is little focus on ridding the parasite all together -- I could be wrong.
Another point: None of those people traveled anywhere. Again, another proving point that people CAN be infected with parasites without being a traveler.