首楞嚴義疏注經 8.470

8.470

即前嗔習為因也。於苦、苦具憎恚居懷，或因妬忌生嗔，嗔恚不捨，名為貪憶。洎受鬼報，遇災衰處便入其身，名為癘鬼。即毒癘、傷寒、傳屍、骨蒸之類，皆此鬼作也。

This is caused by the previously mentioned habit of hatred. Harboring aversion and fury toward suffering and the implements of suffering, or generating anger out of jealousy and failing to release that anger and resentment, is called 'greed for brooding remembrance.' When they undergo retribution as ghosts, upon encountering places of disaster and debility they enter into those bodies; they are called pestilence ghosts. Epidemics, febrile diseases, corpse-transmission wasting, and bone-steaming consumptions are all wrought by this ghost.