π what
What is smallpox?
MedicineHistory of vaccination
Quick Answer
Smallpox was a deadly viral disease that caused fever and a distinctive blistering rash. It is the first human disease to be eradicated worldwide.
The Full Story
Smallpox was caused by variola virus and spread from person to person through respiratory droplets and close contact. The disease killed millions over centuries and left many survivors with scars or blindness. A major turning point came with Edward Jennerβs 1796 cowpox inoculation, the basis of modern vaccination. A global eradication campaign led by the World Health Organization ended naturally occurring smallpox, with the last known case in 1977 and eradication certified in 1980.
Key Facts
1.Smallpox was eradicated worldwide
2.The last known natural case occurred in 1977
3.Eradication was certified by the WHO in 1980
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"The disease that human vaccination wiped off the map"