1. An Impossible Dream

In 1980, the World Health Assembly gathered to announce that one of mankind’s greatest and deadliest enemies had been finally, and completely defeated. That enemy was smallpox. In this opening episode, we look at the devastating impact of smallpox throughout history, as it wrought havoc on the human race. Discover how a 12th-century samurai drove the demon of smallpox away from the island of Ishima. Find out how the Yoruba people worship the god of smallpox, and in India prayers are given to the goddess Shitala - the one who cools. For centuries, smallpox was a monster, a demon - sometimes even a god. But the first lights of resistance were already being lit. ---------------------------------------------- SUPPORT VACCINE TODAY: http://patreon.com/VaccinePodcast ---------------------------------------------- Written and narrated by Annie Kelly Produced by Paul Cooper Sound engineering by Alexey Sibikin Voice actors: Stephen Knowles Deryn Oliver Paul Cooper Rhy Brignell