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The Last Smallpox Outbreak

Thousands of people died in India during the world's last major smallpox epidemic. Individual cases had to be tracked down and quarantined to stop the deadly disease spreading.

Tens of thousands of people died in India in 1974 during the world's last major smallpox epidemic. Individual cases had to be tracked down and quarantined to stop the deadly disease spreading. Ashley Byrne has spoken to Dr Mahendra Dutta and Dr Larry Brilliant who took part in the battle to eradicate smallpox once and for all.

Photo: Smallpox lesions on the human body. 1973. Credit: Getty Images.

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9 minutes

Last on

Sun 25 Feb 2018 03:50GMT

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  • Fri 23 Feb 2018 08:50GMT
  • Sun 25 Feb 2018 03:50GMT

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