In 1796, Edward Jenner introduced the modern smallpox vaccine. Europe adopted this practice from Asia in the first half of the 18th century. Inoculation for smallpox appears to have started in China around the 1500s. As recently as 1967, 15 million cases occurred a year. Earlier deaths included six European monarchs. Smallpox is estimated to have killed up to 300 million people in the 20th century and around 500 million people in the last 100 years of its existence. In 18th-century Europe, it is estimated that 400,000 people died from the disease per year, and that one-third of all cases of blindness were due to smallpox. The disease historically occurred in outbreaks. The earliest evidence of the disease dates to around 1500 BC in Egyptian mummies. Often, those who survived had extensive scarring of their skin, and some were left blind. The risk of death was about 30%, with higher rates among babies. Once the disease had developed, certain antiviral medications could potentially have helped, but such medications did not become available until after the disease was eradicated. Prevention was achieved mainly through the smallpox vaccine. The disease was transmitted from one person to another primarily through prolonged face-to-face contact with an infected person or (rarely) via contaminated objects. The bumps then scabbed over and fell off, leaving scars. Over a number of days, the skin rash turned into the characteristic fluid-filled blisters with a dent in the center. This was followed by formation of ulcers in the mouth and a skin rash.

The initial symptoms of the disease included fever and vomiting. The last naturally occurring case was diagnosed in October 1977, and the World Health Organization (WHO) certified the global eradication of the disease in 1980, making smallpox the only human disease to be eradicated. Smallpox was an infectious disease caused by variola virus (often called smallpox virus) which belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus. Variola major virus, variola minor virus (spread between people) īased on symptoms and confirmed by PCR Ĭhickenpox, impetigo, molluscum contagiosum, monkeypox Later: Fluid filled blisters which scab over.

Smallpox skin eruption