ideo-. a combining form representing idea, in compound words: ideology. Origin of ideo-. ide(a) + -o-.
Smallpox. Smallpox is a disfiguring and potentially deadly infectious disease caused by the Variola major virus. Before smallpox was eradicated, there were two forms of the disease worldwide: Variola major, the deadly disease, and Variola minor, a much milder form.According to some health experts, over the centuries smallpox was responsible for more deaths than all other infectious diseases combined.efore smallpox was eradicated, there were two forms of the disease worldwide: Variola major, the deadly disease, and Variola minor, a much milder form.
Smallpox was most likely the first disease people tried to prevent by inoculating themselves and was the first disease for which a vaccine was produced. The smallpox vaccine was discovered in 1796 by the British physician Edward Jenner, although at least six people had used the same principles years earlier.ouis Pasteur furthered the concept through his work in microbiology. The immunization was called vaccination because it was derived from a virus affecting cows (Latin: vaccaâcow). Smallpox was a contagious and deadly disease, causing the deaths of 20â60% of infected adults and over 80% of infected children.