The end of smallpox was ... the beginning for mpox
Wiping out smallpox had an unintended consequence: the rise of mpox in the past few years. Here's the story — starting with patient zero for mpox back in 1970.
smallpox
The improbable victory over smallpox holds lessons for health threats in 2024
Physician Céline Gounder traveled to India and Bangladesh to bring back unheard stories from the eradication of smallpox, many from health workers whose voices have been missing from the record.
TB is good at resisting antibiotics. Here are some new ideas to outsmart the bacteria
Two new studies draw on data from more than 12,000 patients to help figure out ways to battle antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis.
Getting monkeypox treatment is easier, but still daunting and confusing
Though doctors and advocates have helped speed up access to the antiviral pills – of which the U.S. has enough to treat 1.7 million people – health providers are few and forms are still required.
Scientists warned us about monkeypox in 1988. Here's why they were right.
Their prediction stemmed from the eradication of smallpox. Here's what they said more than three decades ago — and how it foreshadowed events of 2022.
Coronavirus FAQ: What does endemic mean — and are we there yet?
Two years ago, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic. Now there's talk that we may be approaching a new stage for SARS-CoV-2. Let's unpack the word "endemic."
PHOTOS: Vaccine History Repeats Itself — Sometimes
From the first vaccine (for smallpox) the questions have been the same. How do we transport it? Who's next to get it? Why so much hesitancy? The answers can be similar — or dramatically different.
The Vaccine Passport Debate Actually Began In 1897 Over A Plague Vaccine
That's when a vaccine for plague was invented — and authorities began to consider requiring proof of vaccination before visiting pilgrimage sites in India. The debate has raged ever since.
A 300-Year-Old Tale Of One Woman's Quest To Stop A Deadly Virus
In 1721, London was in the grips of a deadly smallpox epidemic. One woman learned how to stop it, but her solution sowed political division.
As Made-To-Order DNA Gets Cheaper, Keeping It Out Of The Wrong Hands Gets Harder
Labs are churning out more and more synthetic DNA for scientists who want to use it to reprogram cells. Some say the technology has outpaced government safety guidelines put in place a decade ago.