Smithsonian Magazine

Encounteri­ng Infectious Disease

- Research by Sonya Maynard

Covid-19, the newly emergent virus behind the current pandemic, is only the latest pathogen to leap from an animal carrier or host to afflict human beings. Here are other notable outbreaks.

?? ?? 1519-1520 New World smallpox Deaths: 5-8 million Animal: Rodents Pathogen: Variola virus Passed from Europeans initially to welcoming Taíno Indians, the disease widely devastated the Americas. An 1878 painting of Taíno Indians welcoming Christophe­r Columbus’ brother.
1519-1520 New World smallpox Deaths: 5-8 million Animal: Rodents Pathogen: Variola virus Passed from Europeans initially to welcoming Taíno Indians, the disease widely devastated the Americas. An 1878 painting of Taíno Indians welcoming Christophe­r Columbus’ brother.
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?? ?? 1665-1666 Bubonic plague Deaths: Up to 100,000 Animal: Rodents Pathogen: Yersinia pestis In the “Great Plague of London,” almost a quarter of the city’s population succumbed. A plague burial trench under excavation in London, 2005. 1616-1619 Massachuse­tts plague Deaths: Unknown Animal: Rodents, livestock or other Pathogen: Leptospira, variola or other Historians are still divided over which virus the colonists harbored, but it wiped out as much as 90% of the neverbefor­e-exposed Indians in the territory.
1665-1666 Bubonic plague Deaths: Up to 100,000 Animal: Rodents Pathogen: Yersinia pestis In the “Great Plague of London,” almost a quarter of the city’s population succumbed. A plague burial trench under excavation in London, 2005. 1616-1619 Massachuse­tts plague Deaths: Unknown Animal: Rodents, livestock or other Pathogen: Leptospira, variola or other Historians are still divided over which virus the colonists harbored, but it wiped out as much as 90% of the neverbefor­e-exposed Indians in the territory.
?? ?? 1347-1352 Bubonic plague Deaths: More than 25 million Animal: Rodents Pathogen: Yersinia pestis The deadliest pandemic in recorded history, the “Black Death” originated in Asia and reached Europe via the Silk Road. A 1411 miniature depicting plague sufferers.
1347-1352 Bubonic plague Deaths: More than 25 million Animal: Rodents Pathogen: Yersinia pestis The deadliest pandemic in recorded history, the “Black Death” originated in Asia and reached Europe via the Silk Road. A 1411 miniature depicting plague sufferers.
?? ?? A.D. 165-180 Smallpox Deaths: 5 million Animal: Rodents Pathogen: Variola virus Soldiers returning from the Near East brought smallpox to Rome; it ravaged a generation. Marcus Aurelius reigned in the “Plague of Galen.”
A.D. 165-180 Smallpox Deaths: 5 million Animal: Rodents Pathogen: Variola virus Soldiers returning from the Near East brought smallpox to Rome; it ravaged a generation. Marcus Aurelius reigned in the “Plague of Galen.”
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?? ?? 541-542 Bubonic plague Deaths: 25 million Animal: Black rat Pathogen: Yersinia pestis One of the deadliest pandemics, it raged through Asia, North Afri ca, Arabia and Europe. Emperor Justinian (above) was stricken but survived.
541-542 Bubonic plague Deaths: 25 million Animal: Black rat Pathogen: Yersinia pestis One of the deadliest pandemics, it raged through Asia, North Afri ca, Arabia and Europe. Emperor Justinian (above) was stricken but survived.
?? ?? 800s Measles Deaths: Unknown Animal: Cattle (likely) Pathogen: Measles virus A Persian doctor first described this highly contagious childhood illness in the 9th century. Vaccines began to thwart the virus (below) in 1963.
800s Measles Deaths: Unknown Animal: Cattle (likely) Pathogen: Measles virus A Persian doctor first described this highly contagious childhood illness in the 9th century. Vaccines began to thwart the virus (below) in 1963.
?? ?? 900s Dengue Deaths: Unknown Animal: Mosquito Pathogen: Dengue virus A Chinese text described the disease in 992, calling it a “water poison” linked to winged insects. Crowded tropical ports would spread the disease globally.
900s Dengue Deaths: Unknown Animal: Mosquito Pathogen: Dengue virus A Chinese text described the disease in 992, calling it a “water poison” linked to winged insects. Crowded tropical ports would spread the disease globally.

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