Every time I see that thing, it makes me think of Zelda.

well, gee, in this world 500 years back it was a continent of Native American Empires vs. some non-native bacteria and viruses, and we know who won there.

@Background Pony #AA71  
Kind of weird that the workers are males instead of females.

@AaronMk
 
There is also the habitat requirementa to consider. There were many of those trees in Everfree’s swamp. And Meadowbrook and her mother fought the disease in a swampy area in the past.
 
This tells us that the tree requires very specific condition to thrive. While it can infect anypony that comes in contact with its pollen, the tree that the infected pony becomes might not live for long if it isn’t in a place that meets those conditions.
 
Which would limit its spread and keep it from becoming an epidemic.

THe true winner is honey from assholes bees.Havent you seen the episode ?

Cordyceps man. My Little Pony has their own form of it now that actually infects the main race.

@gg666  

 
Or a recent occurence.  
There might be a grove of them deep in the Evergreen Forest, and this one was some unlucky critter that became infected, and made its way to near Zecora’s before succumbing. From the episode, infected to full blown tree is only a matter of weeks.  
Any pony with any sense would magically nuke that tree to ash.  
Unfortunately though, that would seem to eliminate most Ponyvillians ☺

@laofuzi
 
They are, but that doesn’t directly correlate to great places to settle. Typically when a city is built where a swamp is it gets drained and filled in first. Cities are more a thing that belongs on dry sturdy ground, usually by a river or at a natural harbor if you want to go big. Not on top of standing water (where malaria has been for us a big problem in that respect, and kept them limited).

@AaronMk  
But swamps are the ecological necessities that help filter out water run off and store greenhouse methane gasses

@Background Pony #0426
 
Well that depends, is there much - or any - traffic between where it’s found versus the rest of Equestria?
 
The main thing for an epidemic to spread is what sort of means of transport is available between the afflicted area and the rest of the state/province, country, or world. If these plants exist in an underpopulated area without any services in and out it may not go anywhere. If it’s also putting ponies down so much they can’t travel, then it’s certainly not going anywhere.
 
Swamp Fever we could suppose isn’t a disease that evolved to be spread far and fast to survive, with a nice long period it ties someone up in bed but a reproductive method of the plant and indifferent on pony life, so it may want to kill the hose quick so it can actually sprout. It being contagious may be contingent on if there’s any “spores” to be rubbed off.
 
Basically: swamp populations should be fucked.

@gg666  
that’s the thing, it only takes ONE to stop being super rare; one pony becomes another tree, and that tree becomes more, ect.

Science.

@Background Pony #0426  
it’s probably super rare

Honestly, equestria should be right f***** from that plant’s existence given its virulence and lethalness.

Me Boi.

i give it to the boi