Smallpox: Why Humanity should not forget the Dreadful Scourge
Smallpox used to be among the most dreaded diseases in history. It has been known to exist since antiquity. It had a high case fatality of 20 – 40%, i.e. almost 30% of the patients lost their lives. It killed more than 300 million people in the 20th century.
Epidemics occurred throughout the world, especially in India. In India, epidemics occurred every 5 to 7 years, even after the vaccine was brought in. It was known to wipe out entire villages and tribes worldwide and even change the course of history.