The last victim of a defeated disease: the tragic story of Janet Parker (7 photos)

In the summer of 1978, the world stood on the threshold of triumph. Smallpox, the devourer of fates and the killer of millions of people for three millennia, seemed to have been defeated. A decade of hard work, mass vaccination campaigns and the tireless efforts of the World Health Organization (WHO) had brought humanity to this moment.





The last case of the disease was registered in October 1977 in Somalia - a young cook, Ali Mau Maalin, survived, although he was not vaccinated. It seemed the end of the road. But fate decided to play its last game.

Victim of an Invisible Enemy



Janet Parker

Janet Parker, 40, a medical photographer at Birmingham Medical School, was the last victim of smallpox. Her illness began with the usual ailments: fever, headache, body aches. But soon her skin became covered in red spots, which quickly turned into ulcers. The doctor initially diagnosed chickenpox, but the unfortunate woman’s condition only worsened. By August 20, she could no longer move without assistance. In the isolation ward of the Catherine de Barnes Hospital, doctors made a terrible diagnosis: it was smallpox, the most deadly strain of the disease.

Panic gripped the city. How could it be that England, one of the most developed countries in the world, had a virus that was thought to be virtually eradicated? The answer was right under Parker's feet. Her office was located above Professor Henry Bedson's laboratory, where live samples of smallpox were being studied. The lab was one of the few authorized by the WHO to conduct such research, but an inspection several months before the tragedy revealed serious violations of safety standards.

Tragedy in Detail





Janet Parker on her wedding day

Professor Bedson, having learned of what had happened, was crushed by a sense of guilt. His laboratory had become a source of contamination due to negligence and ignoring safety requirements. On September 5, Janet's father died of a heart attack, unable to bear the suffering of his daughter. The next day, Bedson himself committed suicide, leaving a note: "I regret that I did not justify the trust... I hope that my action will bring peace to all those connected with this tragedy." Janet Parker died on September 11, 1978.

The investigation revealed numerous violations: virus samples were processed outside of protective cabinets, there were no airlocks, showers or separate changing rooms. The virus probably entered the air duct and reached Parker's office. She herself had not been vaccinated for more than twelve years, while the lab staff were regularly vaccinated.

End of an era



The pathogen under the microscope

The Birmingham incident was the final chord in the history of smallpox. After it, all samples of the virus were destroyed, except for two stored in special laboratories in the United States and Russia. In 1980, smallpox was officially declared eradicated. It became a symbol of human unity in the face of a common threat.

A Legacy of Victory



Edward Jenner

The history of the fight against smallpox begins with Edward Jenner, an 18th-century English scientist who noticed that milkmaids who had cowpox did not become infected with the natural form of the disease. In 1796, he conducted the first experiment, infecting a boy with pus from cowpox pustules. The boy recovered and became immune to both types of the disease. Thus, the first vaccine was created.



Smallpox Vaccination Needle

Modern vaccination methods were simplified by the invention of the forked needle. This simple tool allowed vaccinations to be given more quickly and efficiently, providing immunity to hundreds of millions of people.



People line up for smallpox vaccinations in Birmingham in 1978

The tragedy of Janet Parker has become a reminder of the importance of being cautious even when it seems the danger has passed. Her story is the latest chapter in humanity's centuries-long struggle with an ancient enemy.