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Smallpox and the Native American.

Kristine B Patterson1, Thomas Runge

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 27599-7030, USA. kristine_patterson@med.unc.edu

The American Journal of the Medical Sciences
|May 11, 2002
PubMed
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European infectious diseases, particularly smallpox, decimated Native American populations from the 15th to 19th centuries due to a lack of immunity. Despite early biological warfare, Native Americans later benefited from vaccination programs.

Area of Science:

  • History of Medicine
  • Epidemiology
  • Indigenous Studies

Background:

  • European colonization introduced novel infectious diseases to the Western Hemisphere.
  • Native American populations possessed no pre-existing immunity to these new pathogens.

Observation:

  • Smallpox and measles caused devastating epidemics, leading to significant population decline among indigenous peoples.
  • Smallpox was particularly feared due to its high mortality rates in Native Americans.

Findings:

  • The introduction of smallpox is directly linked to the decline of Native American populations between the 15th and 19th centuries.
  • Evidence suggests early instances of biological warfare involving smallpox against Native Americans.
  • Native Americans also participated in and benefited from early smallpox vaccination initiatives.

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Implications:

  • Understanding the impact of introduced diseases is crucial for historical and public health research.
  • This history highlights the vulnerability of populations lacking immunity and the long-term consequences of disease introduction.
  • The study underscores the dual role of disease as a weapon and a target of medical intervention in historical contexts.