[Brian Griffin]

The British spread smallpox through the South during the Revolutionary War, killing off many slaves.

[Brian Griffin]

“Charlestonians did not overreact”

People were pretty helpless against disease back then, and they knew it.

[Brian Griffin]

“Smallpox spreads from contact with infected persons. Generally, direct and fairly prolonged face-to-face contact is required to spread smallpox from one person to another.

“Smallpox also can be spread through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated objects such as bedding or clothing.”

https://health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/smallpox/fact_sheet#:~:text=Smallpox%20spreads%20from%20contact%20with,such%20as%20bedding%20or%20clothing.

Covid is generally spread through the air and not by contact.

[mjp]

How George Washington handled smallpox
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/george-washington-beat-smallpox-epidemic-with-controversial-inoculations