DNA analysis of ancient Chilean mummies has revealed the earliest known smallpox virus genome in the Americas [1].
The discovery provides scientific evidence that European colonization introduced the disease to the continent [1]. This finding settles a long-standing historical hypothesis regarding how the virus spread through indigenous populations during the colonial era [5].
Researchers extracted the genetic material from mummies found at archaeological sites in Chile [2]. By sequencing the ancient DNA, the team identified the specific genome of the smallpox virus, marking the first time such evidence has been recovered from remains in the region [3].
The study, reported on July 30, 2026 [6], sought to determine the origin of the disease and test whether the virus was present before European arrival. The results indicate that the virus was not endemic to the Americas but was brought by colonizers [1].
Smallpox was a devastating force in the Americas, contributing to massive population declines among indigenous peoples who lacked immunity. The virus remained a global threat for centuries until it was eradicated worldwide in 1980 [2].
This genomic evidence allows scientists to trace the evolution of the virus as it moved across the Atlantic. The analysis of these specific remains in Chile helps map the trajectory of the epidemic as it moved south from the initial points of European contact [3].
“DNA analysis of ancient Chilean mummies has revealed the earliest known smallpox virus genome in the Americas”
This discovery transforms a historical consensus into a biological fact. By isolating the virus genome from ancient remains, researchers have moved beyond circumstantial evidence of colonial-era epidemics to a concrete genetic link, providing a definitive map of how Old World pathogens decimated New World populations.
