/oss/taxonomy/term/4528/all en /oss/article/covid-19-history/physical-isolation-and-case-typhoid-mary <p>Infectious diseases have a long history. The first epidemics were probably caused by the variola virus that causes smallpox. The disease commonly spreads through skin-to-skin contact or contact with bodily fluids, but it can also be spread through the air. Smallpox first appeared around 10,000 B.C. at the time of the first agricultural settlements in northeastern Africa. Egyptian mummies that date back to about 1500 B.C. show evidence of skin lesions typical of smallpox. From Egypt, the disease was probably spread by traders to Europe and India. In 430 B.C.</p> Fri, 15 May 2020 13:42:15 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8247 at /oss