Rich reviews the history of smallpox and the discovery of variola viral genomes in ancient DNA from human remains throughout Northern Europe, which pushes back the earliest date of smallpox virus infection to ~600–1050 CE, overlapping the Viking Age.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker

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Links for this episode

• Variola virus genomes from Viking era (Science)
• Hidden history of ancient plagues (Nature)
• Was smallpox a mild disease? (Science)
• Smallpox: Ten years gone (Am J Pub Health)
• Myth of the milkmaid (NEJM)
• Interview with DA Henderson (ASM)
• Letters read on TWiV 822
• Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks

Brianne – The Animal Kingdom is Full of Genetic Screwballs
Kathy – Science dresses, accessories from Svaha and Rosalind Franklin’s DNA diffraction dress
Rich – The Saxon Stories
Alan – Cincinnati’s “Old Cunny,” and audiobook version
Vincent – Infectious QBeta viral DNA

Listener Picks

Jeff – The unvaccinated may not be who you think

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to [email protected]