The Last Major Smallpox Outbreak in America

Smallpox, a deadly disease caused by the variola virus, was eradicated through vaccination efforts. The last major outbreak in the U.S. occurred in 1947 in New York City, where effective disease control limited the impact. Early immunization practices like variolation evolved into vaccination, pioneered by Edward Jenner using cowpox. The global eradication campaign, led by the WHO, employed ring vaccination to contain outbreaks, culminating in the last natural case in 1977. Smallpox is now extinct, with remaining virus stocks secured in the U.S. and Russia.

What was the primary cause of smallpox?

• Variola virus

• Fungi

• Bacteria

• Parasites

What was the practice of variolation?

• Quarantining infected individuals

• Using cowpox to prevent smallpox

• Infecting people with material from smallpox survivors

• Using antibiotics to treat smallpox

Who developed the first successful smallpox vaccine?

• Robert Koch

• Louis Pasteur

• Edward Jenner

• Alexander Fleming

What was a major challenge during the 1947 New York smallpox outbreak?

• Lack of medical staff

• Vaccine shortages

• Inability to identify the disease

• Resistance from the public

How was the smallpox outbreak in New York primarily contained?

• Antiviral medication

• Ring vaccination

• Travel bans

• Mass quarantine

When was smallpox considered eradicated in the United States?

• 1947

• 1977

• 1960

• 1952

Where are the remaining research stocks of the smallpox virus kept?

• United States and China

• United States and Russia

• United Kingdom and Russia

• United Kingdom and China