Uncommonly Known Facts About Smallpox

• Smallpox's name derived from the Europeans in the 1400's distinguishing smallpox (variola) disease from "great pox" which was what they called syphilis.
• Smallpox does not occur in nature at all.
• Several religions have had gods/goddesses of smallpox. One example is in the Hindu religion, with the goddess, Sitala Mata, which was worshiped all throughout India.
• The vaccine for smallpox was the first vaccine to ever be developed.
• Smallpox was the first disease to ever be completely eradicated worldwide.