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Researchers analyzed DNA from teeth of 13 soldiers from Napoleon’s 1812 Russian campaign.
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Found two key pathogens:
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Salmonella enterica (Paratyphi C) → causes paratyphoid fever.
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Borrelia recurrentis → causes relapsing fever.
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Diseases spread easily due to poor hygiene and harsh conditions.
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Symptoms matched historical records — fever, diarrhea, and exhaustion.
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Suggests soldiers died from a mix of cold, fatigue, and multiple infections.
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No evidence of typhus or trench fever in this study, unlike a 2006 one.
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Overall, Napoleon’s Grande Armée was devastated by several infectious diseases, not just one.
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About 300,000 soldiers died during the retreat — microbes proved mightier than the army.
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