Prevalence of Smallpox and the Trend of Smallpox Inoculation in Fars in the First Pahlavi Period

Abstract

One of the infectious diseases that was widespread in Fars province during the first Pahlavi era (1925-1941) was smallpox. This disease spread in the early days of the Pahlavi dynasty in the cities of Fars province and its epidemic reached its peak in 1318 AD. Important measures were taken to control the disease, including smallpox inoculation. The smallpox inoculators tried to control the disease by creating fixed and mobile posts and by injecting the patient with smallpox fluid or animal smallpox fluid. Despite the efforts of local authorities in the field of smallpox, there were several obstacles and problems to reduce and eradicate the disease. This study intends to study the prevalence of smallpox in Fars and the trend of smallpox to deal with it in the first Pahlavi period by relying on unpublished documents in the Documents Organization and the National Library of Iran as well as the archives of local newspapers and using a descriptive-analytical method. Findings showed that despite the widespread epidemic of smallpox in Fars in the first Pahlavi period and the high mortality rate, the trend of smallpox inoculation progressed well and the government succeeded in using existing facilities and common methods to help control the disease in the regions of Fars.