I'm not aware of any particularly widespread reports of anything similar among the British Eighth Army's *Desert Rats* of WWII, who endured similarly harsh consditions for long duration, nor do I know of any particular reports of anything similar on the Axis side, though incidents involving poisoned water holes, heat prostration and dehydration and other incapaciting maladies were no stranger, of course. My war college thesis was on operations of the period in Libyan Cyrenaica, so I think I'd have come across references to such at some point in my research.
Of course the biblical plagues of Moses come to mind....maybe those familiar with the appropriate verses from the Chapter of the Apocalypse would be able to find a comparison.
-archy-/-