Alastrim -

: It was widely called alastrim (from the Portuguese alastrar , meaning "to scatter" or "to spread"). In the Caribbean : It was known as West Indian smallpox . In Africa : It was often called amaas or Kaffir pox . 🛡️ The Path to Eradication

: Because it was less severe, many people initially mistook it for chickenpox or other minor rashes. alastrim

Alastrim was first identified in the late 1800s in Africa and the Americas. Unlike variola major, which killed roughly 30% of those it infected, alastrim had a . This lower lethality created a unique challenge: : It was widely called alastrim (from the

: Since patients weren't always bedridden, they continued to move through their communities, unwittingly spreading the virus further than the more debilitating "classic" smallpox. 🌍 A Global Journey The disease gained various names as it traveled: 🛡️ The Path to Eradication : Because it