Final answer:
Many invading troops were getting sick due to unsanitary conditions, inadequate supplies, lack of preparation for tropical diseases, and harsh environmental challenges. For example, during WWI, the spread of the Spanish flu significantly impacted both military personnel and civilians, leading to a global pandemic with millions of deaths.
Step-by-step explanation:
Many of the invading troops were getting sick due to a variety of harsh conditions, lack of preparation, and subsequent exposure to diseases. Historical accounts reveal the logistical challenges faced by armed forces, notably the U.S. Army, during significant military campaigns. Factors contributing to the high rate of illness among soldiers included unsanitary conditions in training camps, inadequate supplies such as healthy meat, and insufficient knowledge and experience in dealing with tropical diseases.
For example, during World War I, the emergence of a new strain of influenza, later known as the Spanish flu, caused a profound impact amidst and following the conflict. This pandemic resulted in millions of deaths globally, illustrating the large scale at which disease can affect military personnel and civilians alike.
In history, infectious diseases have often had a more significant impact on military campaigns than combat itself. The conditions in the trenches during wars were brutal, with soldiers facing constant threats from disease, as well as mud, rats, and hunger. Troops were also adversely affected by environmental challenges, such as shortages of clean water leading to outbreaks of dysentery and cholera, and extreme weather conditions, which compounded their suffering and disease susceptibility.