Oldest traces of smallpox virus found in child mummy
Variola DNA in 17th century remains is more direct evidence than earlier mummies’ pockmarks
ANCIENT POX This mummy was found in a crypt in Lithuania, along with a child mummy that held genetic remnants of variola virus, which causes the pustular rash disease, smallpox.
Kiril Cachovskij/Lithuanian Mummy Project, 2015
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