In 1524, a measles epidemic, likely accompanied by smallpox, ravaged the Inca Empire, leading to the death of Emperor Huayna Capac. This outbreak triggered a civil war between his sons, Atahualpa and Huáscar, further destabilizing the empire. The epidemic illustrates the profound effects of European diseases on indigenous populations and the subsequent power struggles that shaped the course of Inca history.

The measles epidemic in the Inca Empire in 1524 led to the collapse of its political structure, disrupting the oral transmission of Quechua poetry. This fragmentation under colonial rule resulted in a loss of cultural continuity, affecting the preservation of Andean literary traditions and their rich poetic heritage.