Last Known Case of Naturally-Occurring Smallpox, 2000, 2 of 2
This photograph was captured in 2000, and what makes it so intriguing is that the Bangladesh woman holding her child is Rahima Banu, who 25 years previously, at the age of 2 years, was recorded as the last known, naturally-occurring case of smallpox, , variola major, in the world. In 1975 Ms. Banu was photograph as a 2 year old child who was suffering with the last known case of naturally-occurring smallpox, or variola major in the world. Her case was reported to public health smallpox eradication team authorities by an 8 year old girl named Bilkisunnessa, who was paid her 250 Taka reward for her diligence. The case occurred in the Bangladesh district of Barisal, in a village named Kuralia, on Bhola Island. The case occurred on October 16, 1975. Note the scars on her face, which are the remnants of her former bout with the viral disease, and its ensuing maculopapular, scarifying rash. At the time of her case, because she was so young, the resiliency of her skin allowed her scarring to leave minimal evidence of its presence.
Size: 3000px × 4820px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 2, 1975, 20th, abnormal, acute, bangladesh, banu, barisal, bhola, bw, case, century, clinical, condition, contagious, disease, diseased, disorder, fatal, female, infectious, island, kuralia, major, medical, medicine, naturally-occurring, pathological, pathology, rahima, science, smallpox, unhealthy, variola, victim, viral, virus, woman
