| | Conditions & Treatments | Viral Infections What year did smallpox started? The first known evidence of smallpox dates back to 3000 BCE in Ancient Egypt, where it was described in medical papyri. Viral Infections - Related Articles The Best Way to Keep Herpes Outbreaks Away How to Get a Shingles Rash How Vaccines Stopped Smallpox Why do we no longer vaccinate for smallpox? Facts About the Polio Virus How does viral meningitis replicate? Does tar weaken the immune system?