Smallpox

Definition

Smallpox is a highly contagious and deadly disease caused by the variola virus. It was eradicated worldwide by 1980 through a global immunization campaign led by the World Health Organization.

Related terms

Vaccination: A method of stimulating the body's immune response to defend against specific diseases. The smallpox vaccine was the first successful vaccine to be developed.

Edward Jenner: An English physician who pioneered the smallpox vaccine in 1796.

World Health Organization (WHO): The international body that led the successful global campaign to eradicate smallpox.