The findings point to how devastating the disease was
— The findings point to how devastating the disease was
July 31, 2026
• 3 min read
Ancient mummy DNA recovered in Chile has yielded the firmest evidence yet that European colonization brought smallpox to the Americas.
Smallpox was one of the deadliest diseases in human history before it was eradicated in 1980, largely thanks to vaccination. For centuries, the virus had killed about one-third of the people it infected and left most survivors with deep and sometimes disfiguring scars.
Ancient mummy DNA recovered in Chile has yielded the firmest evidence yet that European colonization brought smallpox to the…
New research says ancient mummy DNA provides the firmest evidence yet that European colonization brought smallpox to the Americas
Before its eradication in 1980, largely due to vaccination, smallpox stood as one of humanity's deadliest diseases
Analysis of DNA from Chilean mummies has revealed the earliest known genome of the smallpox virus recovered from the Americas.
Smallpox is an age-old scourge with a terrible history.
Researchers have recovered and analyzed the first ancient smallpox virus genomes ever identified in the Americas, providing the…
