What's happened
DNA analysis of soldiers' remains from Napoleon's 1812 retreat in Vilnius uncovered pathogens causing paratyphoid fever and relapsing fever. These infections, alongside cold and starvation, contributed to high mortality. The findings, published in Current Biology, deepen understanding of the health conditions faced by the troops.
What's behind the headline?
The new DNA evidence significantly expands our understanding of the health crises during Napoleon's retreat. It shows that multiple infectious diseases, transmitted via water, food, and body lice, co-occurred, compounding soldiers' suffering. This challenges the traditional narrative that primarily emphasizes cold and starvation. The presence of pathogens like Salmonella and Borrelia suggests that sanitary conditions were even more dire than previously thought, with multiple routes of infection operating simultaneously. This insight underscores how disease management and sanitation could have altered the campaign's outcome. The findings also demonstrate the power of ancient DNA analysis to uncover hidden aspects of historical events, revealing a medical landscape far more complex than symptom-based accounts suggest. Future research across more sites could further clarify the impact of these infections on troop mortality and morale, potentially reshaping historical interpretations of the campaign's failure.
What the papers say
Will Dunham of The Independent reports that DNA analysis from soldiers' remains in Vilnius identified pathogens responsible for paratyphoid fever and relapsing fever, adding nuance to the understanding of disease during Napoleon's retreat. John Timmer of Ars Technica discusses advances in biotech, including DNA techniques that can identify ancient pathogens, illustrating how modern science is transforming historical and medical research. Jennifer Ouellette of Ars Technica emphasizes the scale of casualties and the role of disease, noting that DNA evidence reveals infections like Salmonella and Borrelia, which contributed to the high death toll. While all sources highlight the importance of DNA analysis in uncovering historical health crises, Dunham's focus is on the specific pathogens and their historical context, whereas Timmer and Ouellette explore broader technological and scientific implications. This convergence underscores the significance of ancient DNA in understanding past pandemics and the potential for future breakthroughs in disease research.
How we got here
The 1812 retreat of Napoleon's Grande Armée from Russia resulted in massive casualties due to cold, starvation, and disease. Previous studies identified typhus and trench fever, but recent DNA analysis of remains from Vilnius has uncovered additional pathogens, including Salmonella enterica and Borrelia recurrentis, which caused paratyphoid fever and relapsing fever respectively. These findings highlight the complex health challenges faced by soldiers during the campaign.
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Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania and its largest city, with a population of 580,020 as of 2020. The population of Vilnius's functional urban area, which stretches beyond the city limits, is estimated at 700,275, while according to the Vilnius territori