Instant death in Isle of Quel'Danas today at level 110

I wanted to try some old quests in Quel’Danas from 2008. I have been getting extra gold by going to the Sunwell for a few years. But to my amazement, I was instantly killed right outside of the quest area with npc’s such as Harbinger Inuuro. I saw a 120 horde player do something near me. I wanted to start my quests, so I went outside. Suddenly, I could only walk very slowly for a few seconds, and then I was informed that I had died. I respawned after I got back close to where I my corpse was, but I died almost instantly the second time again today on January 13th here.

Was this something that I forgot 10 years ago? Instant death at a level 70 zone for a non-pvp player at level 110 does not seem possible.