Is Syrakousai ever NOT wracked with plague?

[Landwalker]

As Carthage, I captured Syracuse right off the bat, laying siege to the city within the first two turns and capturing it perhaps a year and a half later. Since then, however, the city's population has (seemingly) plummeted, owing entirely to the fact that since its capture, the city has been hit by no less than four plagues--and it's only 265 BC. I don't believe the city has managed to go more than three turns without plague yet.

Has anybody had a similar experience with Syracuse, or can anybody comment on this phenomenon? I know it's in a prime area for it, but this is ridiculous.

Cheers.

Edit: I've also noticed that the Eleutheroi are far more aggressive than in any of my other campaigns. They've already captured and briefly held Lepki and Ippone (before I took them back), and now a third army is besieging Adrumento. How strange.