The document discusses the North American smallpox epidemic that occurred between 1775-1782. It spread rapidly across North America, infecting virtually the entire continent and killing an estimated 145,000 people. The epidemic reached Native American tribes and British camps, reducing one tribe's population by 25%. George Washington took measures to try to prevent its spread like quarantining infected soldiers, but the disease threatened his army during battles in the American Revolution. The close-knit communities of Native Americans were hit hard as smallpox could easily spread through contact with infected bed sheets or clothing. By the end, it had reached as far as Alaska and the Pacific Coast.

1. NORTH AMERICAN SMALLPOX EPIDEMIC
1º Definition and spreading
A highly contagiousand frequently fatal viral disease that is characterized
by a biphasic fever and a distinctive skin rash that leaves pockmarks in its
wake. The disease is caused by the variola virus. The incubation period is
about 12 days following exposure. Death occurs in up to 30 percent of
cases. It is spread from one person to another via infected saliva droplets
as occurs during face to face contact. People with smallpox are most
infectious during the first week of illness because that is when the largest
amount of virus is present in saliva.
2º Science help us predict hazards
There is a mathematical ecuation which might predict an epidemic,but it
is necessary an outbreak to use that. But I’m going to talk about the
smallpox epidemic.
The rapid spread of smallpox that tookplace between1775-1782,infecting
virtually all of North America and killing an estimated 145000 people.
The smallpox epidemic had reached Mexico, Alaska, Pacific coast, New
Orleans Native American tribes, whose population was reduced from
37000 to 26000, and the epidemic had reached British camps too, and
this produced the expansion of smallpox in Europe.
3º Knowing hazard risk can help people make decisions
Between1775–1782,as the Revolutionary War raged on, smallpox spread
across most of the North American continent. During battles, one of the
greatest threats to the Army came not from enemy bullets, but from the
disease.
George Washington chose to take some calculated risks. One method he
used was to avoid the disease through quarantine. If any of his soldiers
caught the disease, the exposed soldiers were removed from duty and
sent to an isolated hospital designated for those withsmallpox. The other
method, which was many times more dangerous yet more effective,was

2. to use the process of inoculation. It involves exposing people to the
disease, hoping that the exposed do not die. If the exposed lived, which
many of them did, they would most likely be immune to the virus.
4º Links exist between natural hazards
Diseases after a natural hazard are more dangerous because people are
injured and wounded and it’s easierpeople wasinfected.Before the north
American smallpox epidemic in 1775 there wasn’t a natural hazard but it
occured during the years of the American revolution war, and this
produced the same than natural hazards because there is a faster
expansion of the virus.
5º Humans can turn disastrous events into catastrophes
As we said before, smallpox can be spread by saliva, but it can also remain
virile on bed sheets, or evenclothing. This quality allows smallpox to very
easily spread to relatives, especially in the close-knit communities of the
American-Indians. By its end, the smallpox epidemic had reached as far
west as the Pacific Coast and as far northas Alaska, infecting virtually every
part of the vast continent of North America. This was probably due to the
travels of Indian tribes, such as the Shoshones, who were weaker against
the disease because of their lack of knowledge and hygienic facilities.
6º Consequences of hazard could have been minimized
For example, with the vaccine, which was discovered on 10th century
which wasn´t use before 19th century, and this epidemic could be
prevented,but in otherway, withbettersanitary facilities and hygiene the
virus expansion could have been reduced.
Primary effect, was the amount of people who dead by the smallpox.
The secondary effect was the influence on the war.
The tertiary effect wasthe use ofthe vaccine afterthe war, on19thcentury.

3. References:
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=6328
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1775%E2%80%9382_North_American_smallp
ox_epidemic
https://www.boundless.com/u-s-history/textbooks/boundless-u-s-
history-textbook/american-life-during-the-revolution-1763-1789-
8/american-life-during-the-revolution-71/smallpox-413-4932/