Modeling reveals Sydney's 1789 smallpox outbreak killed as many as 220,000 indigenous Australians

Phys.orgIndependentProgressiveyesterday

A new study published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour suggests that the 1789 smallpox outbreak in Sydney, following the arrival of the First Fleet, resulted in the deaths of up to 220,000 Indigenous Australians. The research, conducted by Dr. Cody Nitschke and colleagues, used modeling to trace the spread of the disease and concluded that it primarily affected communities in southeastern Australia, particularly along major rivers like the Murray and Lachlan. The study challenges earlier theories that the disease might have originated from Makassan traders from Southeast Asia, finding that the most plausible origin was the First Fleet. The researchers emphasize the significant demographic impact of the outbreak on Indigenous populations and its lasting effects on community resilience and historical narratives.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the smallpox outbreak as a tragic consequence of colonialism, emphasizing the trauma experienced by Indigenous Australians and the ongoing impacts on their communities. It highlights the role of European colonization in introducing the disease and underscores the need for national