Smallpox in the New World Book

Describes the history of smallpox in the Americas, covering the arrival of the Spanish as carriers, its spread throughout the New World, the development of the smallpox ...

Denise Daley - Children's Literature

The deadly smallpox disease can be traced back as far as 3,000 B.C. where Egyptian records document a smallpox-like disease. During the proceeding centuries the smallpox virus traveled throughout the world, killing hundreds of thousands of people and in some cases, eradicating entire communities. Attempts to prevent smallpox were boundless. Inoculations were not fully accepted until the late 1700's. Today only two known smallpox samples exist and these are securely held for research purposes only. This book is a fascinating examination of the history of this catastrophic, contagious, and disfiguring disease. It created massive fear for thousands of years and after the 2001 terrorist attacks new concerns have been raised. For a fascinating and thorough understanding of the smallpox virus and its effects on world history, this title—part of the "Epidemic!" series—is strongly recommended. 2005, Benchmark Books, Ages 10 up.