Episode Details

Scientists have uncovered the first ancient smallpox virus genomes in the Americas, proving the disease arrived with Europeans during colonization and decimated Indigenous populations. DNA from two 16th-17th century Chilean burials reveals a now-extinct strain bridging European and later American viruses, confirming colonial-era transmission. The virus evolved rapidly before 1600, then stabilized during epidemics—likely due to its effectiveness in unimmunized populations—until vaccination in the 1800s triggered renewed evolution. This breakthrough shows how global events shaped disease evolution and how ancient DNA can illuminate history’s deadliest pandemics.

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