Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Smallpox: gone but not forgotten

P D Ellner1

  • 1Dept. of Microbiology, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA.

Infection
|October 31, 1998
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Smallpox, a severe infectious disease caused by the variola virus, historically caused millions of deaths. Global eradication was achieved in 1979 through vaccination efforts, though controversy remains regarding remaining virus stocks.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Exudative pharyngitis possibly due to Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum.

Emerging infectious diseases·1997
Same author

Role of the microbiology laboratory in care of the immunosuppressed patient.

Reviews of infectious diseases·1989
Same author

Rapid detection and identification of pathogenic mycobacteria by combining radiometric and nucleic acid probe methods.

Journal of clinical microbiology·1988
Same author

Sero group C streptococcal infection in intravenous drug abusers: a report of two cases.

Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease·1988
Same author

Evaluation of substrates for radiometric detection of bacteria in blood cultures.

Journal of clinical microbiology·1988
Same author

Diagnostic laboratory procedures in infectious diseases.

The Medical clinics of North America·1987
Same journal

Changing patterns in the medical care of refugees with HIV from Ukraine.

Infection·2026
Same journal

Trends in meglumine antimoniate prescriptions in Spain (2016-2024): a proxy for cutaneous leishmaniasis burden.

Infection·2026
Same journal

Double agent: how Escherichia coli switches from commensal to pathogen in the urinary tract infection.

Infection·2026
Same journal

Metagenomic next-generation sequencing assists in identifying neurosyphilis: a case series.

Infection·2026
Same journal

Chlamydia trachomatis infection among women with spontaneous abortion in Uganda: burden, clinical presentation, and associated factors in a hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Infection·2026
Same journal

Performance of ultra-sensitive electrochemiluminescence LAM assay for diagnosing tuberculosis in HIV-negative individuals: a multicentre, prospective diagnostic study.

Infection·2026
See all related articles

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Smallpox, caused by the variola virus, is an ancient infectious disease with high mortality rates.
  • Historically, it caused widespread blindness and death, with fatality rates up to 30% for the major form.
  • Humans are the only hosts, and recovery grants lifelong immunity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a historical overview of smallpox, its impact, and eradication efforts.
  • To discuss the evolution of immunization practices from inoculation to vaccination.
  • To address the controversy surrounding the destruction of remaining variola virus stocks.

Main Methods:

  • Historical review of smallpox epidemiology and control measures.
  • Analysis of immunization techniques, including variolation and vaccination.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Examination of the World Health Organization's eradication campaign.

    • Main Results:

    • Smallpox caused millions of deaths globally before eradication.
    • Vaccination with vaccinia virus proved effective in controlling the disease.
    • The World Health Organization declared the world free of smallpox in 1979.

    Conclusions:

    • Smallpox eradication represents a major public health achievement.
    • The decision to destroy remaining variola virus stocks in 1999 remains a subject of debate.
    • Continued vigilance is essential to prevent the re-emergence of such infectious diseases.