Balmis Expedition: The empire against the smallpox
María Roca Barea talks about her expedition, led by Dr. Francisco Balmis. It sent the corvette María Pita from the port of A Coruña, in 1803, and it became one of the most extraordinary public health adventures of the Spanish Empire.
The main goal was to vaccinate all the children of the Empire against the smallpox virus. This expedition turned into the most important global philanthropic adventure of contemporary history.
