Scenarios about 'smallpox'
Smallpox was a highly contagious and deadly infectious disease caused by the variola virus, characterized by fever and distinctive skin pustules that often left survivors with permanent scarring. The disease shaped human history through devastating epidemics that altered population demographics, military campaigns, and colonial encounters before becoming the first disease to be eradicated globally through vaccination in 1980. In alternate history scenarios, different outcomes of smallpox epidemics could dramatically reshape the demographic and political landscape of regions, particularly in scenarios involving Old World-New World contact.
What If Smallpox Was Never Eradicated?
Exploring the alternate timeline where humanity's first and only successful disease eradication campaign failed, allowing smallpox to remain a deadly global threat into the 21st century.
What If The Smallpox Vaccine Was Never Created?
Exploring the alternate timeline where Edward Jenner never developed the smallpox vaccine in 1796, potentially altering the course of modern medicine, public health, and global demographics.
What If Vaccines Were Never Invented?
Exploring the alternate timeline where vaccination was never discovered, leaving humanity vulnerable to infectious diseases and dramatically altering the course of global health, demographics, and society.