The Infectious Science Podcast

← The Infectious Science Podcast3 Sept 2025 · 50 min

War & Pathogens, How Combat Drives Contagion

War & Pathogens, How Combat Drives Contagion3 Sept 202550 min

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...