Which diseases affected U.S. soldiers during the Mexican-American War?

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How the Mexican-American War changed the U.S. forever — Mexican-American War Learn how the Mexican-American War ultimately pushed the United States closer to civil war.

During the Mexican-American War, disease and infection were the primary causes of death for U.S. soldiers, claiming at least 10,000 lives compared to approximately 1,500 combat-related deaths.1

Poor sanitation significantly exacerbated the spread of illness, with volunteer soldiers suffering higher mortality rates than regular troops due to less disciplined sanitary practices. The specific diseases that impacted the military included:1

Yellow fever: Noted as being particularly virulent.1
Other illnesses: Measles, mumps, and smallpox also caused significant casualties.1

These outbreaks were especially devastating for soldiers arriving from rural environments, as they often lacked the developed immunities to these diseases that their urban counterparts possessed.1