Which of the following explains the impact of the creation of the smallpox vaccine on the Americas?(1 point)
Responses
It led to the deaths of about 90 percent of Indigenous Americans.
It led to the deaths of about 90 percent of Indigenous Americans.
It prevented milkmaids on the two continents from getting the disease.
It prevented milkmaids on the two continents from getting the disease.
It led to the development of ways to prevent the disease like mosquito nets.
It led to the development of ways to prevent the disease like mosquito nets.
It led to the complete eradication of the disease.
None of the options provided accurately explain the impact of the creation of the smallpox vaccine on the Americas. The correct answer would be: None of the above. The creation of the smallpox vaccine did not lead to the deaths of 90 percent of Indigenous Americans, nor did it prevent milkmaids on the two continents from getting the disease, or lead to the development of ways to prevent the disease like mosquito nets. Additionally, while the smallpox vaccine has been successful in reducing the incidence of smallpox and is considered one of the greatest achievements in public health, it did not lead to the complete eradication of the disease.
None of the given options accurately explain the impact of the creation of the smallpox vaccine on the Americas.
The correct answer is:
It prevented milkmaids on the two continents from getting the disease.
To determine the impact of the creation of the smallpox vaccine on the Americas, we can analyze the options provided and assess their validity.
1. "It led to the deaths of about 90 percent of Indigenous Americans." This statement is historically accurate, but it refers to the devastating effects of smallpox itself, rather than the impact of the vaccine. The native populations of the Americas had little or no immunity to smallpox, resulting in significant casualties when they were exposed to the disease brought by European colonizers.
2. "It prevented milkmaids on the two continents from getting the disease." This statement suggests that the smallpox vaccine provided protection against the disease for milkmaids in both continents. This could be a reasonable assertion, as milkmaids were often in close contact with animals, increasing their risk of contracting zoonotic diseases like smallpox. However, it does not directly address the impact on the Americas as a whole.
3. "It led to the development of ways to prevent the disease like mosquito nets." This statement implies that the creation of the smallpox vaccine spurred the development of preventive measures such as mosquito nets. While mosquito nets can be helpful in preventing the spread of certain diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, smallpox is primarily transmitted directly from person to person. Therefore, this statement seems unrelated to the impact of the vaccine specifically on the Americas.
4. "It led to the complete eradication of the disease." This statement is not accurate. While smallpox is considered eradicated globally today, this achievement was primarily due to an extensive worldwide vaccination campaign led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and various national health organizations in the 20th century. The vaccine played a crucial role in this eradication effort, but it did not independently lead to the complete eradication of the disease.
Based on the options provided, the correct answer is therefore: "It prevented milkmaids on the two continents from getting the disease." However, it is important to note that the impact of the smallpox vaccine on the Americas extends beyond this specific statement, as the vaccine also played a significant role in reducing the spread and impact of smallpox among the general population in the Americas.