
← The Infectious Science Podcast3 Sept 2025 · 50 min
War & Pathogens, How Combat Drives Contagion
War & Pathogens, How Combat Drives Contagion
War is a vector of disease. The battlefield isn't just a place where bullets fly—it's where pathogens thrive and evolve. Throughout human history, war and disease have been inseparable companions, creating perfect storms of contagion that affect soldiers and civilians alike. Our journey begins in the Boer War concentration camps where measles swept through malnourished populations. We explore how the densely packed, unsanitary conditions created an environment where this highly contagious vi...