The fight against typhus in the Ottoman Army during World War I

Abstract

Five major outbreaks were encountered in the armed forces: (1) typhoid fever; (2) typhus (Rickettsia spp.); (3) Borrelia reccurentis-induced relapsing fever; (4) dysentery; and (5) cholera. Infectious diseases had a devastating effect on Turkish soldiers and in particular typhus was one of the most recognised and widespread diseases throughout Ottoman Empire.