Worse effects of disease to populations with no prior exposure
In epidemiology, a virgin soil epidemic is an epidemic in which populations that previously were in isolation from a pathogen are immunologically unprepared upon contact with the novel pathogen.[1] Virgin soil epidemics have occurred with European colonization, particularly when European explorers and colonists brought diseases to lands they conquered in the Americas, Australia and Pacific Islands.[2]
When a population has been isolated from a particular pathogen without any contact, individuals in that population have not built up any immunity to that organism and also have not received immunity passed from mother to child.[3] The epidemiologist Francis Black has suggested that some isolated populations may not have mixed enough to become as genetically heterogeneous as their colonizers, which would also have affected their natural immunity, due to the potential benefits to immune system function due to genetic diversity.[3] That can happen also when such a considerable amount of time has passed between disease outbreaks that no one in a particular community has ever experienced the disease to gain immunity.[4] Consequently, when a previously unknown disease is introduced to such a population, there is an increase in the morbidity and mortality rates. Historically, that increase has been often devastating and always noticeable.[2]
Diseases introduced to the Americas by Europeans and Africans include smallpox, yellow fever, measles and malaria as well as new strains of typhus and influenza.[5][6]
Virgin soil epidemics also occurred in other regions. For example, the Roman Empire spread smallpox to new populations in Europe and the Middle East in the 2nd century AD, and the Mongol Empire brought the bubonic plague to Europe and the Middle East in the 14th century.[6]
^Crosby, Alfred W. (1976). "Virgin Soil Epidemics as a Factor in the Aboriginal Depopulation in America". The William and Mary Quarterly. 33 (2): 289–299. doi:10.2307/1922166. ISSN 0043-5597. JSTOR 1922166. PMID 11633588.
^ abCite error: The named reference Cliff120 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abCite error: The named reference Hays87 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Daschuk, James (2013). Clearing the Plains: Disease, Politics of Starvation and the Loss of Aboriginal Life. Regina: University of Regina Press. pp. 11–12. ISBN 9780889772960.
^Cite error: The named reference Crosby1976 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abCite error: The named reference Alchon80 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
and 19 Related for: Virgin soil epidemic information
In epidemiology, a virginsoilepidemic is an epidemic in which populations that previously were in isolation from a pathogen are immunologically unprepared...
imperialism Millenarianism in colonial societies Virginsoilepidemic Native American disease and epidemics History of smallpox in Mexico Skaarup 2015, p...
percent in these areas. This was followed by devastating impacts of virginsoilepidemics such as smallpox, influenza, scarlet fever and others to which the...
Indigenous Issues Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization Virginsoilepidemic Also known as First peoples, First nations, Aboriginal peoples, Native...
recorded. A virginsoilepidemic, it spread rapidly across a population which had no prior immunity to the disease. The origin of the epidemic is unknown...
Native American disease and epidemics Seasoning (colonialism) Timeline of European imperialism Triangular trade Virginsoilepidemic McNeill, J. R.; Sampaolo...
ISSN 0093-0415. PMC 1071659. PMID 11788545. Crosby, Alfred W. (1976), "VirginSoilEpidemics as a Factor in the Aboriginal Depopulation in America", The William...
had traded heavily with the French and the disease was likely a virginsoilepidemic. Alfred Crosby has estimated population losses to be as high as 90...
than smallpox; that it can in fact be deadly, particularly so in a virginsoilepidemic (a term only introduced to medicine in 1976); and that it is more...
the original on March 28, 2022. Crosby, Alfred W. (April 1976). "VirginSoilEpidemics as a Factor in the Aboriginal Depopulation in America". William...
Organization and management of preventive measures against pandemics Virginsoilepidemic – Worse effects of disease to populations with no prior exposure...
Americas differed in that multiple pathogens caused multiple waves of virginsoilepidemics over more than a century. Those who survived influenza, may later...
known as sachems. In the early 1600s, European colonizers caused virginsoilepidemics such as smallpox, measles, influenza, and perhaps leptospirosis...
Antiquarian Society (Oct 1949) 59#2 pp 275-292. online Alfred W. Crosby, "Virginsoilepidemics as a factor in the aboriginal depopulation in America." William...
Formatted: Tab stops: 6.3", Left from accidentally introduced ‘virgin’ soilepidemics. They died because U.S. colonization, removal policies, reservation...