Smallpox, The Tiny Virus that Has Molded Human History

Since man began living together in agricultural settlements some 12.000 years ago until modern times, a tiny virus only 302–350 nanometers by 244 to 270 nanometers in size has shaped and reshaped our history. An equal opportunity killer made of only a single strand of DNA, the Variola virus has murdered billions.

Now, as of January 2019, this plague of humankind has seemingly been eradicated thanks to a worldwide effort of vaccination. How did this tiny virus become man’s number one enemy, how did we tame it, and what lies in the future…