Female researcher presenting some diagrams of skeletal remains

Last month I was invited to give a Pitt-Rivers Arch Sci Seminar at @cam-archaeology.bsky.social on my research into the bony lesions of smallpox & I had a great time! Can’t wait to share more on the 7th century aspect soon 🤪👀 #smallpox #archaeology #osteology

It shows a painting or illustration depicts a child receiving the smallpox vaccine.

Also:

The vaccine had already been in use for decades, and officials believed that wider enforcement would reduce outbreaks and save lives.

The smallpox vaccine led to a clear and measurable decline in deaths from smallpox over the 19th century.

#Victorian #vaccines #smallpox #antivaxxer #history

It shows an illustration of a skeleton, wearing a robe and carrying a scythe in one hand and the Vaccination Act in the other.

Additional Facts:

Those who refused could face fines, repeated penalties, and, in some cases, imprisonment if they continued to resist.

This measure arose from the ever-present threat of smallpox, a disease feared for its rapid spread and high mortality.

#Victorian #vaccines #smallpox #history

Excerpt: How George Washington Weaponized Smallpox Inoculation In 1775, Washington deployed colonial soldiers who had survived smallpox to retake Boston during a city-wide epidemic.

#BiologicalWeapons #Smallpox #War #USA #Inocculation
Excerpt: How George Washington Weaponized Smallpox Inoculation
undark.org/2026/03/13/e...

[...]
Washington knew smallpox well. The colonies had experienced some outbreaks, but they had not been as large or as frequent as those that had ...

The history of Indigenous peoples in the Americas following European arrival is distinguished by immense loss and trauma. The dissemination of diseases like smallpox and measles was particularly destructive to native communities, as these populations had not developed immunity to such foreign pathogens. The swift spread of these diseases resulted in population declines that far exceeded the impact of military engagements. In addition to disease, Indigenous communities endured brutal violence, including massacres and wars, alongside policies enforcing removal from ancestral lands. While the claim regarding the death toll of 100 million Native Americans is disputed and not supported by the majority of historians, the extensive devastation experienced by Indigenous populations is undeniable. Deaths were attributable to direct conflict, displacement, starvation, and other secondary effects. Certain scholars and Indigenous historians posit that the colonizers' actions, including targeted campaigns and exploitative policies, constitute genocide, leaving deep-seated scars on Native nations. The repercussions of colonization went beyond immediate mortality to encompass the dismantling of linguistic, cultural, and governance systems. The forced relocation of families and the establishment of boarding schools aimed at stripping away cultural identity further compounded the trauma, while treaty violations by settler governments impeded Indigenous peoples' capacity to sustain their cultures and communities. Despite these adversities, Native nations are presently working towards cultural rejuvenation and legal safeguards, endeavoring to reclaim ancestral lands, protect sovereignty, and revitalize languages and traditions. Through historical acknowledgment and ongoing activism, Indigenous peoples continue to advocate for their rights, identity, and a future honoring their heritage. #nativeamerican

#history of #IndigenousPeoples in #theAmericas following #European arrival is distinguished by IMMENSE LOSS & TRAUMA. #DisseminationOfDiseases like #smallpox & #measles was particularly #destructive to #native nation states, ethnic #populations had no #antibodies #immunity to such #ForeignPathogens.

The #FirstNations people of #BritishColumbia suffered a horrific #smallpox epidemic beginning in 1862 on #ThisDayInHistory when the 1851-built US #PaddleSteamer #BrotherJonathan arrived in Victoria from San Francisco. An estimated 2/3 of the Indigenous population was wiped out.

#BioTerrorAgents #Anthrax #Botulism #Plague #SmallPox #Tularemia #FIFAWorldCup #CommunicableDisease #InfectiousDisease #MedTwitter #NurseTwitter #IDTwitter #InfectionPrevention #HealthCare #HealthcareWorkers #FrontLineWorkers #EssentialWorkers #StaySafe #EmorySCDU

Novosibirsk to launch pilot production of smallpox drug | News | GxP News The Novosibirsk Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences plans to certify premises for the pilot. News GxP News.

#BiologicalWeapons #Smallpox #Medicine #Russia
Novosibirsk to launch pilot production of smallpox drug
gxpnews.net/en/2026/02/n...

The Novosibirsk Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences plans to certify premises for the pilot production ...

Today, Feb 24, our #Catholic & #Christian Friends are celebrating the Feast Day of #Saint #Matthias (patron #alcoholism, #carpenters, #smallpox, and #tailors )

( anastpaul.com/2022/02/24/s... )

Painting:
Martyrdom of Saint Matthias,
1435 (Oil on Canvas),
by #StefanLochner

#SmallpoxSunday @LadyWortleyMontagu promoted #Vaccination in Britain saving millions of lives and eventually the elimination of #smallpox. Her #memorial in entrance to @LichfieldCathedral

→ zum Artikel

#Biden #Cold War #disease #Executive #Joe Biden #power #smallpox #Surveillance #The Who #Trump #CovFEVE - SHUT UP, PIGGY 🐷 ⛬ #UK #USSR #war #World Health Organization

#mglit #bookreview REBELLION 1776 is at YABC!
yabookscentral.com/middle-grade...
#1776 #historicalfiction #smallpox #epidemic #RevolutionaryWar

Sometimes I'm like, why am I even bothering to try to improve my #health parameters that I can control, preventing #diabetes and #heartdisease, because if #smallpox comes back (or even a more virulent #birdflu), I'll be dead within 48 hours of my last #clinical shift in the #hospital.

Mpox transmission model sheds light on a medical mystery In a groundbreaking new study, a team of researchers from South Dakota State University—led by associate professor Saikat Basu—determined the critical exposure durations for inhaled transmission of…

#Mpox transmission model sheds light on a medical mystery ...

| #monkeypox | #viruses | #smallpox | #inhalation | By @sdstate.bsky.social via @sciencex.bsky.social

The Jab: A True Story of Inoculation and Vaccine | The Hudson Review

from Hudson Review 2021. Bart Casey. The Jab. #smallpox #vaccination hudsonreview.com/2021/07/the-...

Convicted FELON, adjudicated sex offender and alleged #Russian asset, donald #trump is the Smallpox of our generation.

And thanks to #RobertFKennedyJr., #Smallpox will be appearing in emergency departments shortly, just after his #Measles epidemic that the religious nuts are thirsty for these days.

History tends to remember the monsters. But this dude is instrumental in stopping a disease #Smallpox that killed between 250-500 MILLION people throughout history. William Foege passed away recently and should be remembered.

#PublicHealth #EmergingDisease #Smallpox #Preparedness
Return of the pox: How smallpox eradication cleared the way for new threats
www.telegraph.co.uk/global-healt...

[...]
“Before smallpox was eliminated, people were frequently exposed to the virus and there were mass vaccination campaigns ...

The forgotten hero who helped eradicate one of humanity’s oldest killers William Foege helped give us a world without smallpox. We’re marking his death by letting measles come back.

"William Foege helped give us a world without #smallpox. We're marking his death by letting #measles come back."

Date: Feb 3, 2026

www.vox.com/the-highligh...

In Memoriam: William Foege and the Nigerian experiment that helped end smallpox - Businessday NG William H. Foege, who died on January 24 at the age of 89, was not yet a giant of public health when he arrived in northern Nigeria...

#Smallpox #Vaccination #Nigeria #Obituary
In Memoriam: William Foege and the Nigerian experiment that helped end smallpox
businessday.ng/health/artic...

[...]
William H. Foege, who died on January 24 at the age of 89, was not yet a giant of public health when he arrived in northern Nigeria. He ...

Project MUSE - Speaking of Health: The Collected Speeches of Bill Foege

Just discovered that Bill Foege's speeches have been published #OpenAccess by Hopkins Press: muse.jhu.edu/resource/7 #smallpox #histmed

#MedievalSky #histmed #histSTM #smallpox #measles #EpiSky Two PhD positions at @exeter.ac.uk.

Opinion | Bill Foege’s optimism helped save the world from smallpox His design of “surveillance-containment” changed the course of public health strategy.

#PublicHealth #Smallpox #Eradication #Vaccination #India #NuclearTest #Obituary
Bill Foege’s optimism helped save the world from smallpox
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

[...]
Then, India detonated its first nuclear device. As reporters streamed in to cover that event, they found ...

What a brutal week as we enter the 2nd year of this administration

1️⃣ 🇺🇸 U.S. withdrawal from #WHO finalized
2️⃣🕊️ 37 year-old ICU nurse #AlexPretti killed
3️⃣ 🌍 New #Nipah outbreak in #India
4️⃣💉 #ACIP chair questioned routine #polio vaccination
5️⃣📉 #BillFoege — who helped eradicate #smallpox passed away

Dr. William Foege, Smallpox Eradication Pioneer, Dies at 89 ATLANTA (JN) - Dr. William Foege, a leading figure in global public health and a key architect of smallpox eradication,

Dr. William Foege, whose pioneering work helped eradicate smallpox, has died at 89, leaving a lasting mark on global public health.

#WilliamFoege #Smallpox #PublicHealth #GlobalHealth #CDC

Public health giant William Foege, who helped eradicate smallpox, has died at 89 ‘I wish we could have spared him from seeing that’: Friends of Bill Foege on his legacy, and his anger over anti-vaccination.

Public health giant William #Foege, who helped eradicate #smallpox, has died at 89 ...

| #Scientist | #vaccination | #pathogen | By @helenbranswell.bsky.social via @statnews.com

One life to live. www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWAY...

#smallpox #williamfoege #rip

ABC Satire on Smallpox Claim Sparks Australia Day Backlash A 'long-debunked myth' meant to inflame resentment. The post ABC Satire on Smallpox Claim Sparks Australia Day Backlash first appeared on VibeWire Magazine.

ABC Satire on Smallpox Claim Sparks Australia Day Backlash #Australia #BreakingNews #AustraliaDay #CraigKelly #SmallPox

So sad to lose our local (global) hero Bill Foege. #public #health #IDTwitter #smallpox