History

 

Smallpox orignated nearly 3,000 years ago. During the 17th and 18th centuries smallpox was a very infectiones and contagious disease in the west. The first reported case of smallpox was in 1350 BC during the Egyptian-Hittite war. At one time smallpox was a disease in every country throughout the world except Australia and a few islands. In Europe and Mexico millions of people died as a result of smallpox. In 1997 the World Health Organization (WHO) started a worldwide campaign to get rid of smallpox. The World Health Organization accomplished that goal in 10 yrs. The last case of smallpox was in 1977. On May 8, 1980 the (WHO) declared the world free of smallpox.