The Sad State Of Medical Care In The DC Universe?!?

It's just another day in Metropolis, and some thieves are trying to steal...

Man. I thought Metropolis--and DC Earth in general--was supposed to be maybe a little bit more advanced than us.

But they're still having problems with a disease we wiped out 40 years ago? Chalk up one for Earth-Us.

Maybe it was space smallpox? Or Luthor's attempt to mutate a kryptonite-based smallpox to take out Superman got out?? Or...?

From Action Comics #987 (2017)