The Incredible Stories Behind 50+ Iconic Historical Photos
The Tale of Two Smallpox Cases
This photo contrasts two children affected by smallpox, a dreaded virus that plagued humanity for centuries. The boy on the left, unvaccinated, is covered in the characteristic pox, while the boy on the right, who received the vaccine, shows clear skin. Smallpox was a highly contagious and often deadly disease responsible for millions of deaths throughout history.
The turning point came in 1796 when Edward Jenner developed the first successful vaccine, using cowpox to create immunity. Thanks to global vaccination efforts, smallpox became the first disease to be eradicated, with the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring it officially eradicated in 1980.
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