HLTB21H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Middle Ages, Mortality Rate, Smallpox Vaccine
2 Dec 2012
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Document Summary
Smallpox is an old world disease which has no classification limits (rich/poor equally affected) 10 000 bc, the first agriculture settlements in north eastern africa the smallpox virus was spread from here by ancient egyptian merchants. Smallpox is described in historical china, and is mentioned in the ancient texts of india. In europe there was a frequent smallpox epidemic during the middle ages, and 16th century. Plague of antonine was responsible for the fall of the roman empire. New world in the 16th century, victory of the explorers over the native population. Fall of the great empires of the aztecs and incas. Captain ecuyer (first use of biological warfare; 18th century) used blankets and handkerchiefs infected with smallpox, to spread the disease to the native population. Monkey pox is the same as small pox with a lower virulence. Haemorrhagic smallpox or black pox develops in 5-10% of cases. Malignant and haemorrhagic form of variola major.
