How humanity finally defeated a virus that plagued us for ten thousand years
In short: Smallpox was a devastating disease that killed nearly one in three people it infected. This video explores the history of our fight against the virus, highlighting the unlikely figures who helped eradicate it.
For ten millennia, smallpox remained a constant threat to human populations. The virus was notoriously lethal, claiming the lives of approximately thirty percent of its victims within a two-week period, while leaving those who recovered with permanent, severe scarring.
The path to eradication involved a series of critical contributions from diverse individuals, including a Buddhist nun, a young boy, a dairymaid, and the physician Edward Jenner. Their combined efforts eventually led to the global elimination of the disease, marking a significant milestone in medical history.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: How we conquered the deadly smallpox virus - Simona Zompi
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