Ancient DNA confirms historical accounts of how smallpox got to the Americas
“Landmark” paper finds disease originated with European contact
In the annals of history, the arrival of smallpox in the Americas remains an enigma. However, a recent study has shed light on this dark chapter, providing genetic evidence that the virus was introduced from Europe. The research, published in Science, analyzed viral DNA found in the remains of two individuals who succumbed to the disease more than 400 years ago in modern-day Chile.
The findings confirm that Orthopoxvirus variola, the causative agent of smallpox, arrived in the Americas from Europe. This discovery corroborates historical accounts that the disease wreaked havoc across two continents, killing millions. While limited genetic evidence exists for pre-twentieth-century smallpox, the study underscores the virus's rapid evolution over the centuries.
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