The story of HOW WE BEAT SMALLPOX, which was one of the deadliest diseases in history, spans several centuries and nearly the entire globe. In this video from History Calling we’ll look at the history of smallpox, some famous people who had smallpox, the mortality rate of this horrendous disease, how it was spread, the symptoms of smallpox (which I’ll show you using historic photographs of those who suffered from it), the long-term effects for those who survived and the invention of a smallpox vaccine. We’ll then see how smallpox was eradicated worldwide by 1980 using that vaccine and why inoculation could destroy this disease, but doesn’t eliminate others. I’ll also reveal how the history of vaccines was shaped by pioneers including Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, Queen Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach (wife of George II), Dr Edward Jenner and the impact the policies of the World Health Organisation (the WHO) had on destroying smallpox. This will include a discussion of early vaccine methods known as variolation, plus a comparison of cowpox and smallpox and how one helped to defeat the other. I’ll also look at the smallpox inoculation programmes around the world, at when and why they were rolled out, then eventually suspended at who had the last case of smallpox in the world and at why there are only two known locations where live smallpox virus is kept today. This is the story of the only disease we’ve ever eliminated and how we did it.

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