Although many terrible diseases have afflicted humankind throughout history, smallpox was perhaps the most devastating. It was originally known as the 'pox' and was characterised by fever, muscle pain, and other flu-like symptoms , as well as a rash that developed into painful blisters . Smallpox is believed to have originated in Africa several thousand years ago, but by the 6th century AD, it was present throughout the Mediterranean. It was then carried around the world via trade and colonisation, with particularly destructive effects on indigenous populations in North America. In 1796, Edward Jenner finally discovered a vaccine that could stop smallpox. Countries around the world immediately began to implement it although it wasn't until 1980 that smallpox was eliminated, which made it one of the few infectious diseases ever to be completely eradicated.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer. 1. In which area of the world is smallpox thought to have first appeared ?​