Original version

BBC World Service Australasia

Witness History

Podcasts

Factual: Life Stories

Factual: History

History as told by the people who were there

History as told by the people who were there.

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

Witness History: The Last Smallpox Outbreak

Magazines & Reviews

News

The Last Smallpox Outbreak

23/02/2018 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, The Last Smallpox Outbreak

In India in 1974 thousands of people died in the world's last major smallpox epidemic

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.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Witness History

The Last Smallpox Outbreak

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Australasia

About BBC World Service