Estudian momias chilenas y descubren restos de viruela europea: esto es lo que significa – National Geographic España

DNA analysis of Inca mummies in Chile has confirmed that European colonization introduced smallpox to the Americas. The discovery of the variola virus in the remains of two individuals provides the first concrete genetic evidence of how the pathogen spread during the colonial period, according to reporting from National Geographic España and DW.

A Killer More Effective Than Steel

The research links the deaths of these individuals directly to the arrival of Europeans. It is a biological record of the colonial encounter, shifting the evidence from anecdotal historical accounts to genomic verification.

Xataka notes that the virus acted as a more effective killer than traditional weaponry during the colonial era. Because the Inca and other indigenous groups had no previous exposure to the virus, the resulting epidemics triggered massive population declines and the destabilization of social and political structures.

Mapping the Variola Path

By extracting and sequencing viral DNA preserved in the tissues of the mummies, researchers matched the material with known European strains of the variola virus. This allows scientists to trace the movement of the pathogen across the continent.

The genetic markers found in these Chilean remains serve as a physical map of the virus’s path through South America. The research indicates the spread was not an isolated event, but part of a broader pattern of disease transmission that accompanied European exploration and settlement.

The Evolution of a Colonial Strain

Not all versions of the disease were equal. Analysis of the genetic material suggests the specific strain encountered during this period may have differed in its lethality compared to later iterations.

The New York Times reports that this centuries-old version of smallpox might not have been as lethal as the strains that characterized later outbreaks.

Gaps in the Viral Record

The presence of the virus is now confirmed. However, the exact timing of the infection in these specific individuals and the precise route the virus took to reach the southern regions of the continent remain areas of ongoing scientific study.