Smallpox deaths (blue) in London, England, 1664–1930, and the long-term trend of weekly births (red). (Credit: Olga Krylova and David J.D. Earn)
CN) Smallpox, responsible for the deaths of millions over three millennia, was declared eradicated 40 years ago. As Covid-19 continues to plague the world, scientists on Monday revealed new insights into smallpox and how lessons learned from it helped guide modern medicine to a vaccine for the latest virus.
In a study published in the journal PLOS Biology, researchers Olga Krylova of the Canadian Institute for Health Information and David Earn of McMaster University in Canada, looked at historical records of smallpox outbreaks in London and how they relate to Covid-19.
Researchers from Canada analysed London death records from 1664–1930
This covered the introduction of health measures, variolation and vaccination
The period ended with the last case of the fatal and scarring disease in the city
Variolation saw people inoculated with small amount of virus from the infected
The procedure which had risks in its use against smallpox was abandoned
Experts have said wearing masks may help safely variolate against COVID-19