Recent measles virus infection increased the severity of infectious disease in WWI with the exception of pandemic influenza

Recent measles virus infection increased the severity of infectious disease in WWI with the exception of pandemic influenza | medRxiv Skip to main content Home About Submit ALERTS / RSS Search for this keyword Advanced Search Recent measles virus infection increased the severity of infectious disease in WWI with the exception of pandemic influenza Lauren E. Steele , Melanie Wu , Jane E. Sinclair , Kirsten Ignacio , Kyle L. Macauslane , Georgina McCallum , Ellesandra C. Noye , Katina D. Hulme , Nathalie A. J. Verzale , Isabelle Hocking , Megan Airey , Sevim Mese , Michael Waller , Svenn-Erik Mamelund , Carolien E. van de Sandt , Keng Yih Chew , Meagan Carney , Kirsty R. Short doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.03.16.26348545 Lauren E. Steele a School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland , Brisbane, Australia Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Melanie Wu a School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland , Brisbane, Australia Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Jane E. Sinclair a School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland , Brisbane, Australia Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Kirsten Ignacio a School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland , Brisbane, Australia Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Kyle L. Macauslane a School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland , Brisbane, Australia Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Georgina McCallum a School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland , Brisbane, Australia Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Ellesandra C. Noye a School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland , Brisbane, Australia Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Katina D. Hulme b Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam, The Netherlands Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Nathalie A. J. Verzale c Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne , Parkville, Victoria, Australia Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Isabelle Hocking a School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland , Brisbane, Australia Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Megan Airey a School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland , Brisbane, Australia Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Sevim Mese d Department of Medical Microbiology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University , Istanbul 34093, Türkiye Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Michael Waller e School of Public Health, The University of Queensland , Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Svenn-Erik Mamelund f Centre for Research on Pandemics & Society (PANSOC), Oslo Metropolitan University , 0130 Oslo, Norway Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Carolien E. van de Sandt g Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity , Melbourne, 3000, Victoria, Australia Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Keng Yih Chew a School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland , Brisbane, Australia Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Meagan Carney h School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Queensland , Brisbane, Australia Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Kirsty R. Short a School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland , Brisbane, Australia Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site For correspondence: k.short{at}uq.edu.au Abstract Full Text Info/History Metrics Data/Code Preview PDF ABSTRACT Background In World War 1 (WW1) outbreaks of measles were associated with high case fatality rates amongst soldiers. Recent studies have shown that survivors of acute measles can also develop immune amnesia, increasing their susceptibility to other infections. However, the impact of prior measles infection on infectious diseases during WWI remains unclear. Methods Here, we create a searchable database documenting the medical history of 1,569 individuals from the Australian, New Zealand, and Canadian forces during WW1. Results We use this novel database to show that a recent measles hospitalisation was associated with a higher chance of death for infectious diseases (excluding pandemic influenza like illness), consistent with immune amnesia. Surprisingly, a prior measles infection was associated with a significant reduction in hospitalisations duration from pandemic influenza like illness. Conclusion These findings highlight the unique interaction between measles and pandemic influenza, contrasting with other infectious diseases, and underscore the significant health burden measles placed on young adults during WW1. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Funding Statement KRS was funded by NHMRC Investigator Grant. Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: Data are available on National Archives of Australia, Archives New Zealand The Library and Archives Canada, First World War Personnel Records Canada Go. First World War Personnel Records database. 2024. https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/help/pffww (accessed 21/09/24. UNSW. The AIF Project. 2024. https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/index.html; (accessed 21/09/24. UNSW@ADFA. The NZEF Project. 2003. https://nzef.adfa.edu.au/ (accessed 21/9/24. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes Data Availability All data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors Copyright The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. 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Sinclair , Kirsten Ignacio , Kyle L. Macauslane , Georgina McCallum , Ellesandra C. Noye , Katina D. Hulme , Nathalie A. J. Verzale , Isabelle Hocking , Megan Airey , Sevim Mese , Michael Waller , Svenn-Erik Mamelund , Carolien E. van de Sandt , Keng Yih Chew , Meagan Carney , Kirsty R. Short medRxiv 2026.03.16.26348545; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.03.16.26348545 Share This Article: Copy Citation Tools Recent measles virus infection increased the severity of infectious disease in WWI with the exception of pandemic influenza Lauren E. Steele , Melanie Wu , Jane E. Sinclair , Kirsten Ignacio , Kyle L. Macauslane , Georgina McCallum , Ellesandra C. Noye , Katina D. Hulme , Nathalie A. J. Verzale , Isabelle Hocking , Megan Airey , Sevim Mese , Michael Waller , Svenn-Erik Mamelund , Carolien E. van de Sandt , Keng Yih Chew , Meagan Carney , Kirsty R. 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