History of Smallpox

Smallpox is believed to have existed within human populations since 10,000 BCE. There is some debate on exactly when it came about, however it is generally agreed upon that Smallpox first appeared around the same time as agricultural communities. Modern genetic studies of the Variola virus continue to alter the timeline. The first archaeological evidence showing Smallpox comes from mummies dating back the 18^th Dynasty of Egypt, specifically Ramses V (1157 BCE). Upon his discovery in 1898, scientists had speculated about what may have caused his death. Because he was mummified in the traditional fashion, much of his body remained relatively preserved. The token signs of Smallpox (rash, blisters, etc.) are said to be present on his mummified skin. Smallpox itself is believed to have originated in Africa and Asia. The two different strains of Smallpox, V. major and V. minor, originate from West Africa and India, respectively. Historical records and medical depictions show evidence of Smallpox in China (1122 BCE) and India as early as 1500 BCE. (Li, Carroll, Gardner, Walsh, Vitalis, Damon. 2007)

How the disease ended up in Europe is much less clear. Neither the Old Testament nor the New Testament describe anything like Smallpox. The same is true for early Greek and Roman literature. Some scholars speculate that the Antonine Plague of 165-180 CE may have been caused by Smallpox (Murphy, 2005), while others say that the Arab armies brought the disease to Southwest Europe during the Islamic Conquests of the 7th and 8th Centuries CE. Either way, it isn't very clear. A great many plagues and pandemics (A greek word meaning "pan"-all and "demos"-people) swept through the ancient world between 1100 BCE and the 3rd Century CE, it is unknown if any of them were caused by the poxvirus. (Li, Carroll, Gardner, Walsh, Vitalis, Damon. 2007)

What is known is that by the 16th Century CE, Smallpox had virtually taken over Europe. Until then the trend was to have periods of large-scale infection followed by long dormant periods. However by the 16th Century, Europe had fully recovered from the Black Death and more people were living in large urban cities. During the late 15th and early 16th centuries Europeans had their first large scale contact with the Native peoples of the Western Hemisphere. The pandemics that would sweep through the American continent would devastate the native populations over the following 400 years. Smallpox was a disease that would claim 80-90% of those who were infected in the New World. (Li, Carroll, Gardner, Walsh, Vitalis, Damon. 2007)

Smallpox in the late 18^th Century became endemic to every corner of the globe except Australia. Having no geographic restrictions, it spread quickly from person to person. In the final years of that Century an estimated 400,000 people died to the disease annually, including five reigning Monarchs. Around this time Variolation became a common treatment for wealthy citizens in Great Britain, its Colonies, and China. Although the practice would not be wide spread until the mid-19th Century, limited vaccination would help lessen the impact of the virus. The vast majority of Smallpox cases in the Western Hemisphere and Great Britain were V. minor, a significantly less deadly version of the Pox virus.

Distribution of Smallpox c1950s (Image from CDC Smallpox Zones, 1955)

It spread quickly because its victims usually only suffered from mild systemic illness and were usually not incapacitated. Infection from V. minor would also provide resistance to the more deadly form of V. major. (Li, Carroll, Gardner, Walsh, Vitalis, Damon. 2007)

Throughout the 20th Century Smallpox would remain endemic to every corner of the World. Between 200 and 500 million people are estimated to have died from the disease in the last Century. In 1967 the World Health Organization took the first major steps in attempting to eradicate the world of Smallpox. On May 8^th, 1980 the Variola virus was declared eradicated. (Li, Carroll, Gardner, Walsh, Vitalis, Damon. 2007)