George R.R. Martin, author of the "Song of Ice and Fire" fantasy series
George R.R. Martin, author of the "Song of Ice and Fire" fantasy series that is the basis of the television series "Game of Thrones", pauses during his masterclass at the Neuchatel International Fantastic Film Festival (NIFFF) in Neuchatel July 10, 2014. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse Reuters/Denis Balibouse

There has still been no official confirmation about the release date of "Winds of Winter" by the author George R.R. Martin. Meanwhile fans of the book series predict what happens next in the book and what major plot elements will affect the overall storyline. The latest predictions relate to the possibility of dragons getting sick. [Spoiler Alert]

So far two sample chapters of Ser Barristan have been made available by the author. The latest chapter on the author's Web site is about Arya Stark. The chapters about Barristan mostly focus on the battle against the forces of Yunkai. The tide of the battle changes in favour of Daenerys after the arrival of Ironmen in Meereen. But Daenerys herself is miles away with her dragon, Drogon.

Ser Barristan had initially decided to fight the battle with the Yunkai forces from a defensive position inside the city. The Yunkai however forced him to go out to face the enemy by flinging dead bodies infected with the flux at Meereen, using catapults. The dragon Viserion was seen eating some of the infected bodies. Will Viserion fall sick in "Winds of Winter"?

The central question in the minds of some of the fans is - can dragons fall sick at all? Some of the members at the Westeros forum believe that the flux is a disease that can only infect human beings. Dragons and animals may be safe from the disease.

The flux, also known as "Pale mare" is a form of dysentery that readers will discover more about in "Winds of Winter." The disease can have a devastating effect on the health and morale of the army. It is interesting to note that the "bloody flux" was a major cause for concern for the soldiers in the real world during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The disease is mostly caused by poor sanitation.

One of the fans at the forum points out that Daenerys could solve the problem of the flux by building a proper sewer system. That however will not stop the Yunkai forces from flinging flux infected bodies into Meereen. Fans of the book series are eager to find out who the Ironmen will negotiate with at Meereen after the battle since Daenerys is not in the city. Will the troubles of the flux be over after the battle in "Winds of Winter"?

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