ðeɪ kˌʊdɐv kəntɹˈæktᵻd ɪt fɹʌm ˈʌðɚ pˈiːpəlz ɪn kˈɑːntækt wɪð jˌʊɹɹəpˈiənz, ɐmˌʌŋ hˈuːm smˈɔːlpɑːks wʌz ɛndˈɛmɪk.
They could have contracted it from other peoples in contact with Europeans, among whom smallpox was endemic.