‘This Is Very Strange’: Ancient Smallpox May Have Been Less Deadly

Scientists have found smallpox DNA in 500-year-old Inca mummies. This discovery provides direct evidence that European colonists brought the disease to the Americas during the Spanish conquest. The mummies, recovered from Chile, show that the smallpox virus was present in the region around the time of the conquest. The finding supports historical accounts that smallpox devastated indigenous populations.

The discovery is surprising because the smallpox virus found in the mummies appears to be less deadly than the strains that circulated in later centuries. This raises questions about how the virus evolved and how it affected populations in the Americas. The New York Times notes that the findings are puzzling, as the virus's reduced lethality contradicts historical records of widespread mortality. The research also underscores the role of ancient DNA in understanding historical diseases.

By analyzing the genomes of the smallpox virus from the mummies, scientists can trace the spread of the disease and its impact on populations. However, the exact implications of the virus's reduced lethality are not yet clear. The findings may prompt further research into the evolution of smallpox and its effects on different populations.