Although considered an eradicated disease for years, the smallpox vaccine is still being produced worldwide. Just at the mention of smallpox, people's blood freezes in their veins, so it is not surprising that even after 48 years, since the last epidemic, it is still number one on the list of biological weapons.
Ibrahim Hoti from Gjakova in Kosovo from a religious trip at the beginning of that year brought the smallpox virus - which was confirmed only on March 14.
In 1972, the former Yugoslavia forever remembered what the word - epidemic meant. The proclamation of an epidemic, restriction of movement, formation of quarantine, urgent mass and obligatory vaccination lined up like on a tape, while this almost eradicated, but highly deadly disease threatened to leave serious consequences. The measles virus is dangerous in itself, but it works almost harmlessly in relation to its distant cousin, smallpox, also known as smallpox or smallpox.
Today, smallpox is officially an eradicated disease, but in 1972 it visited the former Yugoslavia. It was the last recorded epidemic on European soil.
Only thanks to the luck and efficient response of the state, the number of deaths has dropped to 40. Variola is both deadly and highly contagious - it is transmitted by contact with patients or objects it has touched, and even tiny drops from blisters or coughs that float through the air.
Before the vaccine was found in the early 19th century, smallpox was one of the leading causes of death in Europe: it is estimated that about 400,000 people died from it in the 18th century, that is, every tenth European.
It also extinguished several dynasties, including the English royal family of Stuart.
The disease is manifested by high temperature and changes in the skin that quickly turn into blisters and scabs, internal bleeding, failure of vital organs and death.
Mandatory vaccination was introduced in Serbia in 1839, during the time of Prince Milos, 14 years before Britain, but much later than in most European countries.
Milos also harnessed the Church to the vaccination program and obliged the priests to warn the people to get vaccinated. To those who refused, he said that "for the careless, he will answer to God himself."
Thanks to the vaccine, smallpox has not been a serious problem in Serbia since then, as it has been in most of Europe. There were cases, but typhus and Spanish fever took many more lives.
Today, Covid-19 is active, which took a lot of victims all over the world ... I hope that it will end soon, and that everything will return to a normal course of life,