Recently, a new study carried out by an international team of researchers provides fresh insight into the origins of the Smallpox disease. It suggested that the smallpox was in existence as early as during the Viking age in the 8th century CE.
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Key-Points
The origins of smallpox have always been unclear. Until now, the earliest confirmed case of the disease was found in the mummified remains of a 17th century Lithuanian child, even though written records suggest that it is much older.
The Variola virus sequence was recovered from 13 Northern European individuals including 11 dated to 600–1050 CE, overlapping the Viking Age.
These sequences, combined with early written records of VARV epidemics in southern and western Europe, suggest a pan-European presence of smallpox from the late 6th century.
According to the study, the virus was circulating among people even earlier, about 1700 years back at the time when the Western Roman empire declined and people were migrating across Eurasia.
It also suggests that the genetic makeup of the viral strain recovered from the 11 individuals is different from the modern version which was eradicated in 1979-80.
It was suggested as a benign disease (less dangerous) considering that smallpox may have in the past been a mild. In the course of evolution, the active gene count of the virus is shown to have reduced due to mutation. Therefore, the researchers speculated that smallpox became more deadly over time.
About Smallpox
Smallpox is a contagious disease, caused by the Variola Virus (VARV).
It transmits through the droplets released from coughing, sneezing, and face to face contact with an infected person.
One of the deadliest diseases known to mankind, it is also the only one to have been eradicated by vaccination.
In 1980, this was declared as completely eradicated after the global immunization campaign led by the World Health Organization (WHO) with the help of the smallpox vaccine.
The first effective vaccine was discovered by Edward Jenner in 1796.
