A deadly and highly contagious disease that caused pus-filled sores and was one of history's worst killers before being eradicated.
Named by contrasting it with 'great pox' (syphilis)—'small' pox because the pustules were smaller. The disease killed millions throughout history.
Smallpox killed more people than all wars combined and shaped human history—it killed Montezuma's Aztec empire, spread by Columbus's crew. In 1980, doctors declared it completely eradicated, humanity's only victory over a major disease, making it one of medicine's greatest achievements.
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