Smallpox:
first appeared in China and the Far East at least 2000 years ago.
The Pharaoh Ramses V died of smallpox in 1157 B.C.
Smallpox:
reached Europe in 710 A.D. and was transferred to America by Hernando Cortez in 1520.
3,500,000 Aztecs died in the next 2 years.
Smallpox:
reached plague proportions in the cities of 18th century Europe and was a highly feared scourge.
Smallpox:
killed five reigning European monarchs during the 18th century.
Smallpox:
has now been eradicated.
The last naturally occurring outbreak was in Somalia on 26th October 1977.