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980 BCE
Origin of Smallpox
The origin is unknown. Smallpox-like rashes on Egyptian mummies suggested that it has existed for at least 3000 years.
Appeared in China in the 14th century
Appeared in India in the 7th century
Appeared in Asia Minor in the 10th century -
Period: 501 BCE to
Smallpox increased in several countries
It spread to China, Korea, Europe, North America, Australia, and many other regions. The main cause was commerce and wars occurring on the continent like crusades. -
Early control effects
According to the Center of disease control and prevention,“3 out of every 10 people who got it died and the ones who survived usually had scars”. One method was the variolation that got named after the virus that causes smallpox. In this method people who had never been infected with the virus were exposed to it by scratching material in their arms or inhaling directly from their nose. After that, less people died with varolation than if they had gotten smallpox naturally. -
World Health Organization
WHO started a plan to rid the world of smallpox. This organization suffered from a lack of funds, personnel, and commitment from countries. -
Intensified Eradication Program
They promised renewed efforts. They were able to produce a better vaccine. The buried needle was developed, a case surveillance system was established, and vaccination campaigns were promoted.
Smallpox was already eliminated in a lot of countries. -
Period: to
Last Cases of Smallpox
In 1975, three-year-old Rahima Banu from Bangladesh was the last person in the world to have naturally acquired variola major. Ali Maow Maalin was the last person to have naturally acquired smallpox caused by variola minor, in 1977. Janet Parker was the last person to die of smallpox, in 1972. -
Vaccination program
Edward Jenner noticed that milkmaids who had gotten cowpox were protected from smallpox. Jenner also knew about variolation and guessed that exposure to cowpox could be used to protect against smallpox. Doctors tested this in a 9 year old and one month later they exposed him to the virus, but he never developed it. The vaccination was accepted and it replaced variolation. At some point in the 1800s, the virus used to make the smallpox vaccine changed from cowpox to vaccinia virus. -
Stocks of Variola Virus
Scientists and public health officials determined there was still a need to perform research using the variola virus. They agreed to reduce the number of laboratories holding stocks of variola virus to only four locations. According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (2021), “There are now only two locations that officially store and handle variola virus under WHO supervision: the CDCP organization in Georgia, and the VECTOR Institute in Russia.” -
Smallpox vs Vaccine
Anyone who had contact with someone who developed an infection would need a smallpox vaccine, which can prevent or lessen the severity of the disease if given within four days of exposure to the smallpox virus.Two vaccines were available at the time, the Jynneos and the ACAM2000 vaccine. -
World free of Smallpox
Almost two centuries after Jenner hoped that vaccination could annihilate smallpox, the 33rd World Health Assembly declared the world free of this disease. -
APA
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, February 20). History of smallpox. CDC.
https://www.cdc.gov/smallpox/history/history.html
The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. (2021). History of smallpox. History of vaccines. https://www.historyofvaccines.org/timeline/smallpox