The Next Pandemic? How War and Famine Are Reviving Ancient Diseases

How War and Famine Are Reviving Ancient Diseases

Cholera, polio, and leprosy are surging in war zones—experts warn we’re one flight away from global disaster.

We’ve spent the last few years obsessing over COVID-19, stockpiling face masks, and talking about future viruses that might jump from bats, birds, or pangolins. But while we look ahead in fear, something far more sinister is creeping up from behind: the return of diseases we thought we buried centuries ago.

Yes, cholera, polio, leprosy, and even the bubonic plague are back—not in history books, but in real time. In countries wrecked by war, famine, and collapsing health systems, these ancient killers are thriving. And they’re not just a local concern. Global health experts are sounding the alarm: these diseases are one plane ride away from a major city near you.

So, how exactly are the ghosts of past pandemics becoming tomorrow’s global threats?

War Zones: Where Old Diseases Get New Life

The formula is devastatingly simple. Take a brutal conflict, bomb a few hospitals, force millions of people into overcrowded camps, and cut off clean water. What you get is a perfect breeding ground for diseases we thought were long gone.

1. Cholera Is Booming—And It’s Preventable

Let’s start with cholera—an illness that spreads through dirty water and kills within hours if untreated.

In Yemen, nearly a decade of civil war has devastated water and sanitation infrastructure. The result? Over 2.5 million people infected in what the World Health Organization calls the worst cholera outbreak in recorded history.

Meanwhile, in refugee camps across Syria and Lebanon, where sanitation systems have all but collapsed, UNICEF reports repeated outbreaks—spreading fast and largely unchecked.

2. Polio’s Revival: From the Brink of Eradication to the Frontlines of Conflict

At the turn of the millennium, the world was close to wiping out polio forever. But wars have a way of undoing progress.

In Afghanistan and Pakistan, armed conflict and deep-rooted distrust have stalled vaccination campaigns. Children are growing up unvaccinated, and cases are creeping upward again, according to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

And in Ukraine, the Russian invasion has gutted healthcare access. Routine immunization has plummeted, raising red flags across Europe. The BBC warns of a real possibility: a wider polio outbreak in Eastern Europe fueled by war-induced neglect.

3. Leprosy and Plague: Diseases That Shouldn’t Exist Anymore

Yes, you read that right. Leprosy and the black death—a.k.a. the bubonic plague—are still around.

In India and Brazil, leprosy is quietly returning, spreading in the shadows of overcrowded slums and neglected rural areas. Fear, stigma, and poverty keep it underreported and untreated.

And in parts of Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the plague still lurks. War and displacement have led to unsanitary living conditions that attract rats, the age-old carriers of Yersinia pestis. The Centers for Disease Control has confirmed annual outbreaks—often hidden from the global spotlight.

Why Are We Losing the Battle Against Ancient Diseases?

In a world full of technology and scientific breakthroughs, how can these medieval monsters be gaining ground? The answer is as multifaceted as it is frustrating.

Collapsing Healthcare Systems

Wars don’t just kill people—they also destroy the very institutions meant to save lives. In Gaza, Sudan, and Myanmar, hospitals have been bombed, clinics abandoned, and health workers forced to flee. Without healthcare infrastructure, even simple diseases spiral into deadly outbreaks.

Misinformation and Distrust

In many war-torn regions, there’s rampant mistrust of health authorities. Conspiracy theories spread faster than vaccines. People refuse immunizations, fearing they’re government ploys. This fear is a gift to diseases like polio and measles, which thrive when vaccination rates drop.

Malnutrition and Famine

When people don’t have enough to eat, their immune systems weaken. In places like South Sudan, Somalia, and northern Ethiopia, where drought and conflict overlap, famine strips entire communities of their ability to fight infections. Diseases that would be survivable under normal conditions become death sentences.

Drug Resistance

Modern medicine isn’t what it used to be—because the diseases are getting smarter. A study in The Lancet warns of drug-resistant cholera strains in several regions, making it harder and more expensive to treat. If these strains spread internationally, the consequences could be catastrophic.

Could These Outbreaks Spark a Global Health Crisis?

The short answer? Yes.

In today’s globalized world, it only takes one infected person to board a plane and carry a centuries-old disease into a modern metropolis. Think about how fast COVID-19 traveled from one corner of the world to the next.

The resurgence of these diseases is not just a humanitarian issue. It’s a global health threat waiting to explode.

What Needs to Happen—Before It's Too Late

We already know how to prevent and treat these diseases. The problem isn’t science—it’s political will, funding, and attention.

Emergency Vaccination Programs

Organizations like Doctors Without Borders are doing heroic work getting vaccines into war zones. But they can’t do it alone. They need international support, local partnerships, and consistent funding.

Investment in Clean Water and Sanitation

The best defense against cholera and other waterborne diseases is access to clean, safe water. Humanitarian groups and local governments must prioritize sanitation infrastructure, especially in camps for displaced people.

Strengthened Global Monitoring

Outbreaks often go undetected until it’s too late. We need stronger disease surveillance systems, particularly in fragile states. Early detection and response can stop outbreaks before they escalate.

Rebuilding Trust in Medicine

Health communication needs to be culturally sensitive and locally led. In conflict zones, rebuilding trust between communities and medical providers is as essential as the medicine itself.

Conclusion: The Future Looks Like the Past—Unless We Act

The world’s next pandemic might not be some mystery virus from a faraway jungle. It could be cholera, polio, or plague, thriving in the cracks of war and spreading across borders through neglect.

This isn’t just about poor countries, faraway places, or ancient history. It’s about all of us—and how we choose to respond.

If we don’t act now to protect the most vulnerable, the diseases of the past may become the defining threat of our future.