1707–08 Iceland smallpox epidemic

Iceland experienced one of its deadliest outbreaks of smallpox beginning in 1707. The epidemic ultimately killed around 12,000 Icelanders, close to one-quarter of the island's population at the time.

1707–1708 Iceland smallpox epidemic
DiseaseSmallpox
Virus strainVariola major
LocationIceland, Kingdom of Denmark
Index caseIcelandic man who died en route from Denmark [1]
Dates1707–1709
Confirmed casesOver 30,000
Deaths
12,000

Background

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Iceland in 1707 was a territory of the Kingdom of Denmark with 53,681 people according to one tally of the 1703 census.[2] Epidemic diseases like smallpox did not naturally sustain themselves on the island due to the relatively sparse population, but frequent trade and travel with Denmark presented a vulnerability to cross-Atlantic spread of contagious diseases. Smallpox had crossed the ocean before in 1670, causing a two-year epidemic, and since then a new generation of people had developed with no immunity to the disease.[3]

Epidemic

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In 1707, smallpox arrived in Iceland aboard a ship from Denmark when a passenger fell sick and died with the disease. Despite being buried at sea, the index case's contaminated clothing remained and infected at least one other person on board.[1] The next year it had spread to almost every town across Iceland. The last reported cases were in the spring of 1709. Ultimately, the outbreak may have killed a quarter of the population of Iceland at the time.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Hays, J. N. (2005). Epidemics and Pandemics: Their Impacts on Human History. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. p. 131. ISBN 978-1-85109-658-9.
  2. ^ G. Guðmundsson, Eiríkur (2015). The 1703 Census - Our Heritage. Reykjavik: Þjóðskjalasafn Íslands. p. 22.
  3. ^ Eugene, Foster; Griffin, E. L.; DeWolf, Oscar C.; Homen, George; Abbot, Saml. W.; James, E. H.; Wood, Thomas F. (1884). "Efficiency and Safety of Vaccinations". Public Health Papers and Reports. 9. American Public Health Association: 255–256 – via Google Books.