The auroral plague was a disease which struck a colony on Dramia II in 2251. It was described in computer records as:
- "Plague, Dramia II. Of unknown origin characterized by pigmentation changes in skin of victim, debilitation, death. Certain species known to have natural immunity, notably Vulcan."
Kirk suffers from the auroral plague.
Individuals effected with the plague experienced a change in pigmentation from blue, to green, to red. It was later determined that the cause for this color change was due to aurora borealis interference.
The plague hit Dramia II soon after Doctor Leonard McCoy departed the planet after administering a mass inoculation to its inhabitants. The plague virtually wiped out Dramia II's entire population.
The Dramians would blame McCoy for the plague and, in 2270, would arrest McCoy and place him on trial for mass murder. The Enterprise later visited Dramia II to clear McCoy's name, however, became stricken with the plague themselves. Upon the return to Dramia, Spock conducted a jailbreak, and released Dr. McCoy so that he could determine a cure for the plague.
It was soon after determined that the aurora played a part in the plague, however, no know antidote could be determined. After further investigation, it was determined that Saurian virus antibodies in the bloodstream of one of the original plague survivors created an immunity to the plague. (TAS: "Albatross")