E54: Measles Mortality in the Armies of the Early 20th Century by G Dennis Shanks

"Measles Mortality in the Armies of the Early 20th Century" by G Dennis Shanks examines the lethal history of measles within various military forces during the early 20th century, specifically highlighting how the virus caused high mortality rates before the era of modern vaccines. The author details how secondary bacterial pneumonia was the primary cause of death for soldiers, with significant outbreaks occurring in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australian armies during World War I. While measles mortality significantly declined as the population gained natural immunity and eventually access to immunization, the text warns that the disease remains a potent threat to global health. The article emphasizes that falling vaccination rates and the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria could make measles a dangerous infection once again. Ultimately, it calls for military medical preparedness and a rejection of anti-vaccine rhetoric to prevent the resurgence of this historically devastating illness. You can read the original article here: https://jmvh.org/article/measles-mortality-in-the-armies-of-the-early-20th-century/ #podcast #militarymedicine #AMMA #JMVH #veteranshealth #militaryhealth