Main content

The last smallpox outbreak

Thousands of people died in the world's last major smallpox epidemic in India, in 1974.

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. Ashley Byrne spoke 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.

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Fri 28 Feb 2020 04:50GMT
91热爆 World Service South Asia, Australasia, Americas and the Caribbean & East Asia only

More episodes

Previous

The rebel nuns who left their convent behind

Next

Freeing American prisoners from Iran

See all episodes from Witness History

Broadcasts

  • Thu 27 Feb 2020 08:50GMT
    91热爆 World Service
  • Thu 27 Feb 2020 12:50GMT
    91热爆 World Service
  • Thu 27 Feb 2020 13:50GMT
    91热爆 World Service News Internet
  • Thu 27 Feb 2020 16:50GMT
    91热爆 World Service Australasia
  • Thu 27 Feb 2020 18:50GMT
    91热爆 World Service except Australasia, East and Southern Africa, South Asia & West and Central Africa
  • Thu 27 Feb 2020 21:50GMT
    91热爆 World Service South Asia
  • Thu 27 Feb 2020 23:50GMT
    91热爆 World Service West and Central Africa & East and Southern Africa only
  • Fri 28 Feb 2020 03:50GMT
    91热爆 World Service Online & UK DAB/Freeview only
  • Fri 28 Feb 2020 04:50GMT
    91热爆 World Service South Asia, Australasia, Americas and the Caribbean & East Asia only

Featured in...

Podcast