Smallpox was a severe infectious disease that affected humans for thousands of years before its eradication in the late 20th century. The symptoms included a distinctive rash, pustules, and fever.

Smallpox was a terrible scourge on humanity, killing hundreds of millions of people over the centuries. But its origin remains obscure. Egyptian mummies from 3,000 to 4,000 years ago, including that ...

Many countries have stockpiled vaccines because of concerns about the reemergence of smallpox. Traditional smallpox vaccines are based on replicating vaccinia viruses; these vaccines have considerable ...