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Anthropology

PoindexterOglethorpe

(27,129 posts)

2. That's fascinating.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Fri Jul 24, 2020, 06:09 PM

Jul 2020

The article sort of makes it sound as if smallpox is a relatively recent disease. It's not.

There are Egyptian mummies that clearly show smallpox scars. And there was an epidemic of the disease around 1350 BCE. I realize that article is talking about the genetics, and it's quite fascinating, especially how much the virus seems to have evolved over time, even though it's still smallpox.

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Smallpox-Infected Viking Skeleton Pushes Deadly Virus Age Back 1,000 Years [View all] Judi Lynn Jul 2020 OP

Somewhere out there.... Boomer Jul 2020 #1

That's fascinating. PoindexterOglethorpe Jul 2020 #2

Had never heard it was common in Egypt! So horrible. It certainly outstayed its welcome. Thanks. n/t Judi Lynn Jul 2020 #3

Yes, it's been around for many thousands of years, and over time PoindexterOglethorpe Jul 2020 #4