RE: A European Grand Tour, and Smallpox
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Ha! I was surely not born in 1972. I am sitting here watching the rain wondering, damn what the world would have looked like in that era. This is my most fav blog of yours until now. It touches on aspects of science of the disease and vaccines and have a brilliant personal touch. In middle I was little emotional thinking about my mother. My parents passed away when I was like 10 years old and I guess I was too young to even know what dreams of their I could have fulfilled when I grew up. It was very touching moment for me when you explained how before disease could effect her vision you made sure you could take her to see Europe.
Anyhow getting back to smallpox. I am very curious about the last 1978 case of small pox. Why miss Parker got infected. I have to, have to dig deeper into this. Anyway, about being worried about small pox. Well luckily since ages we haven't heard of any infection. Through vaccination we made sure that we have eradicated whatever we knew of. The military people I think get vaccinated because of likelihood of smallpox to be used in some bioweapon. If it is to hit again ever it will definitely be a mass chaos. Though if it's not some new strain I think it would be contained fast, because we have learnt a lot about it. But before containment it can cause some damage for sure.
Anyhow, thanks for this wonderful article.
I'm so sorry you lost your parents at such an early age. What a challenge for you, as a child. You must have had some wonderful role models because you turned out very well. Your ethics always come through in your pieces. As does your humanity. Of course, you are smart. But smart people have done a lot of harm in the world. You'll never be one of those :)
As for realizing my mother's life dream...she raised six children by herself. My sister and I (emphasize my sister here) thought my mother should reap some small dividend after all that.
In the past I did a little research on the polio vaccine and so the information on the smallpox vaccine was especially interesting. I'm glad my material met the standards of a research scientist---high bar to meet here on SteemSTEM.io.
Thanks so much for reading and for your kind words.
Regards,
AG