Smallpox was ultimately defeated, leading to its successor disease known as MPOX which spread further than ever.

Smallpox and mpox are related diseases whose elimination has created an opening for their spread. An illustration from 1884 depicts smallpox pustules on a woman’s hand while, at right, in 1997 there is evidence of outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo where she contracted it during an outbreak.
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Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images; CDC/Image Point FR/BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images.
Two days into an unremarkable visit to grandma’s house in 1970, something remarkable occurred – 9-month-old grandson became seriously ill with fever and then an unbearably itchy rash, initially thought by doctors to be smallpox but ultimately recognized as monkeypox (now commonly referred to as mpox). Today, more than five decades after this case in an isolated part of DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) this same virus is again sending public health experts scrambling. So far in 2018 alone there have been over 30 thousand suspected mpox cases reported across 15 African nations — dwarfing previous yearly totals by far; prompting some public health specialists into revisiting its past history afresh – prompting some experts in revisiting its past history to ensure future prevention measures are in place before an outbreak occurs this timeframe again!
“Monkeypox first surfaced in 1970 but is suddenly spreading throughout 2024 – what happened along the way?” queried Ugandan health minister Jane Ruth Aceng at a recent World Health Organization regional meeting held in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo in August. Researchers now realize the roots of monkeypox lie closely tied with its outbreak in response to vaccination campaigns against smallpox: “We vaccinated against it and eradicated it; but then came monkeypox,” noted Aceng. Smallpox and mpox viruses are so closely connected that immunity against one can help ward off another. When smallpox vaccinations were stopped, our world lost immunity against mpox as did medical training to combat its virus. This story illustrates unintended outcomes and how successfully defeating smallpox opened up opportunities for measles virus pox (mpox). Experts agree that studying the history of smallpox offers invaluable lessons about its evolution over time, how our medical tools have changed along with it and what people might do to regain control over its spread. How Eradicating Smallpox Has Paved the Way Physicians do not understand how Grandson contracted Smallpox during that tragic trip to his grandmother’s house. Though his grandma lived a week from DRC’s capital city, his doctors made sure crusts from his sores were sent for testing in Moscow; there they discovered evidence of monkeypox (known since 1958 but thought to only affect monkeys until this discovery).
At that very moment in history, humanity was nearing an enormous accomplishment: the complete elimination of smallpox virus which had killed hundreds of millions during the 20th century alone. When smallpox first surfaced it received worldwide media coverage as humanity made strides to eradicate it and end its devastating spread.
Global Smallpox Eradication Worker in Contonou, Benin in 1968 as they administer vaccinations as part of Global Smallpox Eradication Project courtesy Centers for Disease Control. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images).
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Dr. William Moss of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health describes it as one of humanity’s great triumphs: global health coverage. Scientists needed to verify that smallpox had gone away completely before concluding it had not recurred, Moss said, so intensive surveillance for smallpox enabled doctors to quickly recognize this boy’s case of measles as evidence that smallpox still lingered among us. Soon thereafter, other cases of monkeypox began emerging among humans; by 1978 there had been 36 documented instances in humans alone and its exact source remained elusive to scientists; was it from monkey contact, another forest animal or something entirely different? Scientists were aware that mpox was genetically related to smallpox; both viruses belonged to the same virus family. Case investigators studying suspicious rashes soon determined that those suffering mpox infections hadn’t received vaccination against smallpox. Example: One 9-month-old was the only member of his family not protected against smallpox vaccination and one who contracted monkeypox; his birth had come just months prior when the mobile smallpox vaccination team visited town to provide vaccination. Public health specialists quickly recognized that in an ideal world without smallpox infections and vaccinations, no-one would possess immunity against smallpox; prior to discontinuing smallpox vaccines they carefully evaluated this risk. “Generally, vaccination against smallpox was not required to protect against measles v. varicella (MPox), according to Anne Rimoin of UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health and leading researcher into MPox,” she states. For one thing, people didn’t perceive it as an imminent risk. Rimoin notes the low potential for human-to-human transmission was low at that time; researchers believed mpox spread via contact with forest animals; urbanization reduced chances of exposure to wild animals as it occurred a great deal more frequently at that time, according to Rimoin.
Unfortunately for our environment and ourselves, some elements are inevitable in life – like dying. Here at Homegrown we try and ensure we offer only quality options and that’s why you won’t find us giving any more advice than necessary!
Additionally, Moss notes that the smallpox vaccine was far from ideal: people could die from receiving one as it contained live virus that wasn’t suitable for those with weak immune systems. In 1978, WHO concluded in their case report on smallpox vaccination that it wasn’t highly transmissible and did not pose a public health threat; consequently vaccination programs for smallpox in DRC ended shortly afterwards. So emerged an entire generation vulnerable to mpox into society, prompting significant change both medically and in terms of public policy. By 2024 and again 2025, WHO declared MPOX an international health crisis of great concern; their highest level of alarm. “No good deed goes unpunished, right?” writes Rimoin in her 2010 study for PNAS on smallpox cases increasing dramatically as immunity against it has diminished over time, prompting experts to believe this lack of immunity may explain the current outbreak’s high incidence among children who did not yet possess immunity against smallpox.
At first sight it may look as if this article has nothing to do with reality – the subject appears as though they have taken place entirely within an imagined reality world, where all is well in that context of time and place. Yet we might suspect there might be another level beneath these surfaces…
TOPSHOT – Patients listen attentively as a doctor consults outside of Nyiragongo General Referral Hospital north of Goma on August 17th 2024 at their Mpox treatment centre for Mumps treatment centre. With approximately 16,000 cases recorded since the start of 2017, Democratic Republic of the Congo is at the centre of an epidemic that caused World Health Organisation to issue their highest international alert level alert on Wednesday. South Kivu Province records approximately 350 new cases every week according to Dr Justin Bengehya, Epidemiologist with South Kivu Provincial Health Division. Goma, capital of North Kivu Province and almost surrounded by an armed rebellion and where hundreds of thousands of displaced people are camped out, fears a large-scale spread due to promiscuity. (Photo credit: Guerchom Ndebo/AFP via Getty Images).
Guerchom Ndebo/AFP, via Getty Images/AFP
Rimoin supports the decision to stop providing smallpox vaccinations as “absolutely” the right decision: resources could then be applied towards other vaccines or health concerns – “cross off [smallpox] off your list and move onto something else”, she asserts. Other people agree. Dr. Mitch Wolfe, former chief medical officer for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yet Rimoin acknowledges, the world is paying the consequences. Not only has immunity diminished globally since mpox first was identified – and widely dismissed – it has changed substantially in three key ways since 1978 when WHO assessed that it was “rare and sporadic disease [that was] not highly transmissible”. First off, the virus itself has evolved; almost no longer fits WHO’s description that “mpox is rare and sporadic disease [that] not highly transmissible”.
Although, at times it might appear otherwise – for instance when they can’t seem to find enough people willing to sign on –
Traditionally, people would contract the pox by handling infected wildlife such as rodents. Today however, it often spreads easily among individuals through close physical or sexual contact – for instance sharing linens within a household – or sharing linens among friends. Urbanization means this virus has more of an opportunity than ever to spread more widely and faster, disproving any assertion that wildlife interactions would curb its spread; to the contrary, DRC Ministry of Health reported over 500 cases in Kinshasa alone! Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, chief of staff of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDP) warns, noting Kinshasa’s large and overcrowded nature make it susceptible to rapid expansion. A second key change: Key medical skills have been lost since the eradication campaign for smallpox was in full swing; not only were vaccines reaching every corner of the planet but staff worldwide were trained in administering vaccinations, diagnosing rashes and collecting samples for testing. These skills have since disintegrated. Now, those skills have diminished dramatically and experts regularly lament a lack of high-quality data in discussions of MPOX x. Remember the 9-month-old’s scabs sent from deep in the DRC rainforest all the way up to Moscow for testing? That type of maneuver now presents many obstacles. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC notes that most of those responsible for collecting specimens lack proper training on what constitutes quality specimens, making specimen collection and transportation among their primary challenges. As is true with vaccination, vaccination skills have also diminished significantly over time. Most mpox vaccines were first created for smallpox; most smallpox vaccinations involved using an injector with needle that scrapes skin off, leaving that distinctive scar on an arm – the same technique employed with Japanese MPOX vaccine – which has recently been approved as the only approved pediatric vaccination option in DRC and will require significant training efforts prior to roll out in that region.
Once again, here we go again… With just under four weeks until Christmas day arrives and everyone’s busy with shopping (along with being excitedly anticipatory of seeing Santa arrive!), let’s have some fun… Let’s have some xmas festivities to look forward to… oh wait… I forgot! Firstly let’s have another look at those darned Santa’s… and why shouldn’t the same go for their presents this time too… Secondly let’s have another crack at those pesky Christmas… and when Christmastime arrives… then so will those poor souls! –
“[Teaching this technique will take time], as its use hasn’t been employed in vaccination programs for years,” notes Dr. Mike Ryan of WHO’s Health Emergencies Program. Additionally, an important change: appetite for cooperation has diminished globally. “Today it would be nearly incomprehensible” that such international cooperation existed during the smallpox eradication campaign, according to Johns Hopkins’ Moss. To achieve success it required coordination across warzones and political differences – something “almost unthinkable today”. Although donations to combat Africa’s measles outbreak from America to Europe to Japan have been significant, many experts point out that an absence of collaboration may have played a part in initiating its current outbreak. “We are communicating to our Western colleagues about their culpability for what’s taking place here in Africa,” according to Kaseya at Africa CDC. He notes that during the 2022 mpox outbreak, most countries only focused on its spread across Europe and America; when it came to Central Africa however, “they did not conduct studies. Kaseya states: They didn’t conduct research…Eighty percent of our colleagues and partners’ ignorance regarding this outbreak can be blamed on them refusing to see its true nature.” We don’t blame anyone here but instead tell the truth.” Rick Bright believes it may be time to reconsider our decision not to vaccinate for smallpox and by extension mpox and consider reinstating vaccination programs as soon as possible. A lot has happened since this decision was taken and things should change now before being finalised on. Bright, who previously led the U.S. Center for Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, would like to start discussing whether global vaccination would provide protection from MPox/SPOTx variants that might surface again.
Unfortunately for you and me both.. when we got together today to have lunch.. the weather had other ideas! As it stands now we still cant go outside as its freezing cold… so todays post will show some pics from last time to help your decision making…!
Bright notes that over time, smallpox and mpox vaccines have become safer, as has proven its ability to evolve and spread widely; yet any mass vaccination effort would take some time before becoming viable. At present, there aren’t enough MPOX vaccine doses available to address the current outbreak or incorporate it into routine vaccination lists. Moss of Johns Hopkins disagrees with mass vaccination being an appropriate strategy as MPOx has yet to spread widely through society. “My approach remains more targeted – whether that means targeting high risk populations spatially,” according to DRC President Eric Hosking. Their strategy involves targeting hotspots as well as populations at greatest risk such as children, health care workers and sex workers – such as hotspots as well as population groups such as children. What they agree upon is increasing vaccine production and availability while conducting more comprehensive discussions around protection from pox viruses.