How we conquered the deadly smallpox virus - Simona Zompi

Summary

The script narrates the devastating history of smallpox, which emerged 10,000 years ago in Africa and killed billions, including 300-500 million in the 20th century. It details the evolution of variolation, an early form of inoculation, and the pivotal discovery by Edward Jenner in 1796. Jenner's observation that dairy maids with cowpox were immune to smallpox led to the first vaccine, using the less harmful cowpox virus to protect against smallpox. This breakthrough, along with widespread vaccination campaigns, led to the World Health Organization's certification of smallpox eradication in 1979. The summary highlights Jenner as the father of immunology, while also acknowledging the contributions of a Buddhist nun, dairy maid Sarah Nelmes, and James Phipps in the fight against smallpox.

Takeaways

• 🦠 Smallpox emerged around 10,000 years ago in northeastern Africa and was highly lethal, causing fevers, vomiting, and rashes, with a 30% fatality rate during the second week of infection.
• 🌍 The virus spread globally, impacting civilizations from ancient Egypt to the Americas, and is estimated to have killed hundreds of millions in the 20th century alone.
• 🔬 The first recorded attempt to combat smallpox was in 1022 A.D. by a Buddhist nun in Sichuan, China, who used a rudimentary form of inoculation with ground smallpox scabs.
• 💉 Variolation, an early form of vaccination, involved transferring material from smallpox sores to healthy individuals, which reduced the risk of infection but was not without risks.
• 🐄 English physician Edward Jenner observed that dairy maids with cowpox, a milder disease, did not contract smallpox, leading to the development of the smallpox vaccine.
• 🧪 Jenner's experiments with cowpox virus from Sarah Nelmes, a dairymaid, and James Phipps, his gardener's son, demonstrated the effectiveness of vaccination in preventing smallpox.
• 🌐 Vaccination using the cowpox virus was safer and more effective than variolation, leading to its acceptance and the eventual prohibition of variolation in England in 1840.
• 🏥 After widespread vaccination campaigns in the 19th and 20th centuries, the World Health Organization declared smallpox eradicated in 1979.
• 🏅 Edward Jenner is celebrated as the father of immunology, but the contributions of the Buddhist nun, Sarah Nelmes, and James Phipps were crucial in the development and success of the smallpox vaccine.
• 📚 The story of smallpox illustrates the long and arduous journey from the first attempts at prevention to the global eradication of a deadly disease.

Q & A

What was the origin of the smallpox virus?

The smallpox virus originated in northeastern Africa around 10,000 years ago.

How did smallpox spread throughout the world?

Smallpox spread through various means including Egyptian merchants, the Arab world during the Crusades, and with the Spanish and Portuguese conquests in the Americas.

What were the symptoms of smallpox infection?

Symptoms included fevers, vomiting, and rashes, with survivors bearing scars and scabs for life.

What was the mortality rate during the smallpox infection?

About 30% of infected people died during the second week of infection.

How did the practice of variolation start, and who was responsible for it?

Variolation started in 1022 A.D. by a Buddhist nun in Sichuan, China, who noticed survivors of smallpox did not get infected again and used smallpox scabs as a preventive measure.

What was the method used in variolation to protect against smallpox?

Variolation involved grinding up smallpox scabs and blowing the powder into the nostrils of healthy people.

Who was Edward Jenner and what was his contribution to smallpox?

Edward Jenner was an English physician who discovered that cowpox could be used to protect against smallpox, leading to the development of the smallpox vaccine.

What was the significance of cowpox in the fight against smallpox?

Cowpox is a less virulent disease that resembles smallpox. Jenner found that people who had cowpox were immune to smallpox, leading to the development of the smallpox vaccine.

How did Jenner prove that his vaccine was effective?

Jenner inoculated James Phipps with cowpox virus matter and later challenged him with smallpox, proving that he was immune to the disease.

When was smallpox officially eradicated, and who certified it?

Smallpox was officially eradicated in 1979, as certified by the World Health Organization.

Who are the key figures in the eradication of smallpox mentioned in the script?

Key figures include Edward Jenner, the Buddhist nun who initiated variolation, dairy maid Sarah Nelmes, and James Phipps, who was the first to be successfully vaccinated against smallpox.

Outlines

00:00

🦠 The Emergence and Spread of Smallpox

The script begins with the emergence of smallpox 10,000 years ago in northeastern Africa. It describes the devastating effects of the virus, which targeted various organs and caused severe symptoms like fevers, vomiting, and rashes, with a fatality rate of 30%. The disease's history includes its spread during the Egypt-Hittite war, facilitated by Egyptian merchants and later by the Crusades and Spanish and Portuguese conquests. The script highlights the significant death toll, with billions of people affected, including an estimated 300 to 500 million in the 20th century alone.

🧬 Early Attempts at Smallpox Prevention: Variolation

The script discusses the early efforts to combat smallpox, starting with the practice of variolation in 1022 A.D. by a Buddhist nun in Sichuan, China. She observed that survivors of smallpox were immune and used this knowledge to protect others by blowing smallpox scab powder into the nostrils of healthy individuals. This method evolved over time, with 18th-century doctors using material from sores to inoculate people through scratches on the arm. Although effective, this method was risky, with up to 3% of inoculated individuals dying from the procedure.

🧬 The Discovery of Vaccination: Edward Jenner's Breakthrough

The script narrates the story of Edward Jenner, an English physician, who observed that dairy maids with cowpox, a milder disease, were immune to smallpox. Jenner's curiosity led him to test the idea that cowpox could protect against smallpox. In 1796, he inoculated an eight-year-old boy with cowpox matter and later challenged the boy with smallpox, proving immunity. Jenner's method of vaccination, using the less dangerous cowpox virus, was a safer alternative to variolation and marked a significant advancement in disease prevention.

🌐 Global Vaccination Efforts and Eradication of Smallpox

The script concludes with the global impact of Jenner's vaccination method. It details how vaccination campaigns in the 19th and 20th centuries led to the eradication of smallpox, with the World Health Organization certifying its eradication in 1979. The script honors Jenner as the father of immunology but also acknowledges the contributions of the Buddhist nun who initiated variolation, dairy maid Sarah Nelmes who provided the cowpox matter, and James Phipps, the first person to be vaccinated against smallpox, all of whom played pivotal roles in the fight against this deadly disease.

Keywords

💡Smallpox

Smallpox is a highly contagious and deadly disease caused by the variola virus. It is characterized by fever, vomiting, and rashes, with a significant mortality rate, historically killing billions of people. In the context of the video, smallpox is the central theme, highlighting its devastating impact on human history and the eventual development of methods to combat it, such as variolation and vaccination.

💡Variolation

Variolation is an early form of inoculation against smallpox, which involved taking material from the sores of an infected person and introducing it into healthy individuals through scratches on the arm. This method provided some protection against smallpox but was risky, with up to three percent of people dying after the procedure. The video mentions variolation as a precursor to modern vaccination techniques.

💡Edward Jenner

Edward Jenner was an English physician who is known as the father of immunology. He is credited with the discovery of the smallpox vaccine after observing that dairy maids who had cowpox did not contract smallpox. Jenner's experiments with the cowpox virus led to the development of the smallpox vaccine, which is a significant turning point in the video's narrative.

💡Cowpox

Cowpox is a less severe disease that affects cows and is similar to smallpox but does not cause serious illness in humans. In the video, cowpox plays a crucial role as Jenner's observation that those who had been infected with cowpox were immune to smallpox led to the development of the smallpox vaccine.

💡Vaccination

Vaccination refers to the process of introducing a vaccine into the body to provide immunity against a specific disease. The video details how Jenner's use of the cowpox virus to protect against smallpox led to the creation of the smallpox vaccine, which is a form of vaccination. This method was safer and more effective than variolation and ultimately contributed to the eradication of smallpox.

💡Immunology

Immunology is the study of the immune system, which is the body's defense mechanism against infections and diseases. The video highlights the significance of Jenner's work in the field of immunology, as his discovery of the smallpox vaccine laid the foundation for modern immunization practices.

💡Eradication

Eradication in the context of the video refers to the complete elimination of a disease, in this case, smallpox. The World Health Organization certified the eradication of smallpox in 1979, marking a significant achievement in public health and a testament to the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns.

💡Virus

A virus is a microscopic infectious agent that can only replicate inside the living cells of an organism. The video discusses the variola virus, which causes smallpox, and the cowpox virus, which is used in the vaccine. Understanding the nature of viruses is essential to grasp the video's discussion of how vaccines work.

💡Inoculation

Inoculation is the process of introducing a pathogen or a vaccine into the body to stimulate an immune response. The video describes how inoculation with the cowpox virus provided immunity against smallpox, leading to the development of the smallpox vaccine and the eventual eradication of the disease.

💡Dairy Maid

In the video, dairy maids are mentioned as individuals who worked closely with cows and were often exposed to cowpox. Jenner's observation of dairy maids' immunity to smallpox after having cowpox was a pivotal moment that led to the development of the smallpox vaccine.

💡Sarah Nelmes

Sarah Nelmes was a young dairy maid who played a significant role in the development of the smallpox vaccine. Jenner used matter from her cowpox lesions to inoculate James Phipps, which was a critical step in proving the effectiveness of the cowpox vaccine against smallpox. Nelmes's involvement is highlighted in the video as an important part of the vaccination story.

Highlights

A deadly virus emerged in northeastern Africa 10,000 years ago, affecting various organs and causing high mortality rates.

Smallpox, identified by its characteristic scars and scabs, had a devastating impact on human history.

The virus was spread globally through various historical events, including wars and conquests.

In the 1350 B.C., the Egypt-Hittite war saw the first recorded smallpox epidemics.

The spread of smallpox was facilitated by Egyptian merchants and later through the Arab world during the Crusades.

The Spanish and Portuguese conquests in the Americas further disseminated the disease.

The 20th century alone saw an estimated 300 to 500 million deaths due to smallpox.

The fight against smallpox began in 1022 A.D. with a Buddhist nun's innovative variolation method.

Variolation involved the use of smallpox scabs to induce immunity in healthy individuals.

By the 1700s, doctors were using material from sores to inoculate healthy people through arm scratches.

Edward Jenner, an English physician, observed that dairy maids with cowpox were immune to smallpox.

Jenner's experiments with cowpox led to the development of the smallpox vaccination.

The vaccination method used the less virulent cowpox virus, unlike the variolation that used the smallpox virus.

Jenner's vaccination was initially met with skepticism but was eventually accepted by the medical community.

Variolation was prohibited in England in 1840, marking a shift towards safer vaccination practices.

Extensive vaccination campaigns in the 19th and 20th centuries contributed to the eradication of smallpox.

The World Health Organization certified the eradication of smallpox in 1979.

Edward Jenner is celebrated as the father of immunology, alongside other key figures in the fight against smallpox.

Transcripts

10,000 years ago,

a deadly virus arose in northeastern Africa.

The virus spread through the air,

attacking the skin cells,

bone marrow,

spleen,

and lymph nodes of its victims.

The unlucky infected developed fevers,

vomiting,

and rashes.

30% of infected people died

during the second week of infection.

Survivors bore scars and scabs

for the rest of their lives.

Smallpox had arrived.

In 1350 B.C., the first smallpox epidemics

hit during the Egypt-Hittite war.

Egyptian prisoners spread smallpox

to the Hittites,

which killed their king

and devastated his civilization.

Insidiously, smallpox made its way around the world

via Egyptian merchants,

then through the Arab world with the Crusades,

and all the way to the Americas

with the Spanish and Portuguese conquests.

Since then, it has killed billions of people

with an estimated 300 to 500 million people

killed in the 20th century alone.

But smallpox is not unbeatable.

In fact, the fall of smallpox started

long before modern medicine.

It began all the way back in 1022 A.D.

According to a small book, called

"The Correct Treatment of Small Pox,"

a Buddhist nun living in a famous mountain

named O Mei Shan

in the southern providence of Sichuan

would grind up smallpox scabs

and blow the powder into nostrils of healthy people.

She did this after noticing

that those who managed to survive smallpox

never got it again,

and her odd treatment worked.

The procedure, called variolation,

slowly evolved

and by the 1700's,

doctors were taking material from sores

and putting them into healthy people

through four or five scratches on the arm.

This worked pretty well

as inoculated people would not get reinfected,

but it wasn't foolproof.

Up to three percent of people

would still die after being exposed to the puss.

It wasn't until English physician Edward Jenner

noticed something interesting about dairy maids

that we got our modern solution.

At age 13, while Jenner was apprentice

to a country surgeon and apothecary

in Sodbury, near Bristol,

he heard a dairy maid say,

"I shall never have smallpox, for I have had cowpox.

I shall never have an ugly, pockmarked face."

Cowpox is a skin disease

that resembles smallpox and infects cows.

Later on, as a physician,

he realized that she was right,

women who got cowpox didn't develop

the deadly smallpox.

Smallpox and cowpox viruses are from the same family.

But when a virus infects an unfamiliar host,

in this case cowpox infecting a human,

it is less virulent,

so Jenner decided to test

whether the cowpox virus could be used

to protect against smallpox.

In May 1796, Jenner found a young dairy maid,

Sarah Nelmes,

who had fresh cowpox lesions on her hand and arm

caught from the utters of a cow named Blossom.

Using matter from her pustules,

he inoculated James Phipps,

the eight-year-old son of his gardener.

After a few days of fever and discomfort,

the boy seemed to recover.

Two months later, Jenner inoculated the boy again,

this time with matter from a fresh smallpox lesion.

No disease developed,

and Jenner concluded that protection was complete.

His plan had worked.

Jenner later used the cowpox virus

in several other people

and challenged them repeatedly with smallpox,

proving that they were immune to the disease.

With this procedure,

Jenner invented the smallpox vaccination.

Unlike variolation, which used actual smallpox virus

to try to protect people,

vaccination used the far less dangerous cowpox virus.

The medical establishment,

cautious then as now,

deliberated at length over his findings

before accepting them.

But eventually vaccination was gradually accepted

and variolation became prohibited in England in 1840.

After large vaccination campaigns

throughout the 19th and 20th centuries,

the World Health Organization certified

smallpox's eradication in 1979.

Jenner is forever remembered

as the father of immunology,

but let's not forget the Buddhist nun,

dairy maid Sarah Nelmes, and James Phipps,

all heroes in this great adventure of vaccination

who helped eradicate smallpox.