Smallpox is a highly contagious viral disease that was eradicated in 1980 (Mucker et al., 2013). Before eradication, smallpox was endemic in many tropical countries in the past 40 years. The success of the eradication was cultivated by intensified immunization, case-control and active surveillance by World health organization with support from all nations. The only remaining wild Variola major viruses are under two top security WHO research laboratories as the threat of bio terrorism remains real(W.H.O., 2015).
Smallpox is caused by variola virus of Poxviridae family (which is a dsDNA with replication taking place in the cytoplasm) subfamily Chordopoxvirinae, and Orthopoxvirus genus(Dimmock, Easton, & Leppard, 2014). The variola virus was the major cause of the past smallpox outbreaks. It is believed that humans are the only
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A characteristic macular-papular rash presents, initially as small spots on the tongue and in the mouth. The rash develops to pustular and forms a scab when resolving.
Management
The introduction of smallpox vaccine drastically decreased the incidence(Dr Hunt, n.d.). The vaccine is 95% effective although not used routinely due to heightened safety concerns. From World Health Organization estimated 15 million people contracted smallpox each year before 1967, and the fatality rate was more that 2 million. For unvaccinated individuals, the mortality rate stands at approximately 30%. The highest morbidity and mortality presents in immunocompromised population such as young children, pregnant women and elderly individuals.
Monkeypox and cowpox are also orthopoxviruses that infect human beings with considerable health threats(Di Giulio & Eckburg, 2004).
Smallpox is contagious at the onset of fever, but most contagious when the rashes appear. The infected person will remain contagious until the last scab falls
The history of vaccinations begin with Edward Jenner, the country doctor from Gloucestershire who found, growing on cows, a nearly harmless virus the protected people from smallpox. Jenner’s vaccine was safer, more reliable, and more durable than variolation, and it is still the only vaccine to have eliminated its reason for being-in 1980, when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the disease extinct. For nearly a century and a half, smallpox was the only vaccine routinely administered, and it saved millions of lives . But the controversy that marked the return of the vaccine, amid bioterrorism hysteria in 2002, was only the latest twist in the remarkable, mysterious life of vaccines.
Smallpox is a disease caused by a poxvirus that is caught from person to person that causes high fever, and rash, that can kill about 1/3 of those who caught the disease. Smallpox (also called variola) is the only disease that has been fully cured. Smallpox is also almost one of the most scary deaths ever. Not one documented naturally occurring case of this very infectious, deadly disease hasn't occurred since 1977. (An unvaccinated hospital cook in Somalia was the last person to naturally contract smallpox.) The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared smallpox eradicated in
Smallpox is formally known as the Variola virus. Smallpox is a viral infection creating pustules that more than likely will leave scars. This infectious disease creates high fevers and major fatigue in individuals. Smallpox is another disease that reflects the primary goal of vaccinations, eradication. As of today, research has shown that smallpox is the only disease that has been completely eradicated due to vaccinations. With this being said, the allowance of discontinuation of routine immunizations has been set in place. Children who receive these vaccinations only receive one dosage of the vaccination to prevent smallpox. Unlike many other diseases, children receive one to two, maybe even three doses to prevent a certain disease ("Disease Eradication"). The last case of smallpox in the United States was last reported in 1948 and the last case of smallpox in the world was last reported in 1948, in Somalia ("Smallpox Disease
Smallpox virus's scientific name is variola. It means "spotted" in Latin, and it was given to the disease by a medieval bishop. The virus, as a life form, comes in two subspecies:
Currently the only existing forms of smallpox are in two secure laboratories; the CDC facility in Atlanta and Russian State Research Centre for Virology and Biotechnology in Koltsovo. These samples were scheduled to be destroyed in 1993 but there was and still is much debate about what should happen to them.
Smallpox, also know as variola virus, is extremely contagious and lethal. In modern day it has been eradicated and we no longer vaccinate the human population. Symptoms begin 12-14 days after infection; after 1-2 days spots turn into blisters and then pustules and after 8-9 days these pustules become crusted. If the person survives, large disfiguring scars remain (Merck, 2003).
Smallpox is a highly contagious virus that has no known cure. Variola, is the name of the virus that caused one of the largest epidemics known to man. Smallpox killed nearly 500 million people in the 20th Century alone. Before Smallpox was eradicated it killed nearly 60% of all infected people. Smallpox has been coexisting with humans for thousands of years and has a very long history.
Smallpox is an infectious virus that has influenced people for many centuries. Smallpox got its name from a latin word called ¨spotted¨ since you get those bumps that are red all over your body. You could easily prevent this disease.
Despite smallpox’s long history of harm, killing nearly 300 million people in the twentieth century alone, it is now considered eradicated thanks to a vaccine and vaccination program lead by the World Health Organization. Because of its eradication,
Smallpox is a a disease that is contagious and can possibly be fatal. First, one type of the smallpox disease is the Variola major. Variola major comes in four different forms. These forms are ordinary, modified, flat, and hemorrhagic. Next, the other type of smallpox virus is Variola minor. This type of smallpox is less severe, and also less common.
Millions of deaths were caused by smallpox through the 20th century. Catching smallpox was easy as catching a cold. A piece of cloth, blood, etc could all be fatal. In 1796 physician Edward Jenner discovered the first working vaccine to cure smallpox. Jenner placed cowpox into a boys arm. He later introduced the smallpox virus to the boy and he didn't fall ill with the disease.
Smallpox is a highly contagious infectious disease. The type of microbe for smallpox is the Variola virus. Smallpox is caused by either the Variola major or the Variola Minor. This virus is spread by direct contact. The disease was likely to be in human populations about 10,000 BC. An epidemic broke out in 1519 with the Aztecs and the Conquistadors in Tenochtitlan Mexico. The epidemic killed a total of twenty five percent of the Aztecs population leaving it easy for Cortes and the conquistadors to take over the desired
Armed with opposable thumbs and high-functioning frontal lobes, humans have historically battled disease, including the “the speckled monster”; smallpox. Known as a highly contagious virus, smallpox has been around since 10,000 B.C., and its plagues are responsible for causing millions of deaths. There was no knowledge of how to treat or prevent this disease from spreading until the idea of taking samples of dead smallpox cells and injecting them into a human was proven to build immunity. Over time, the treatment was perfected and has changed medical history by introducing the idea of the vaccine. Smallpox vaccinations eventually became mandated, and in 1979, smallpox was declared to be the first disease to ever be completely eradicated from
Smallpox was once one of the most severe infectious diseases that was endemic throughout the world for most of the recorded history. It is caused by variola virus (a DNA virus and a member of the Poxviridae family), and characterized by three phases: incubation, prodrome and rash. This disease killed and disfigured innumerable millions of people globally.
Imagine a quick spreading rash throughout the entire body, leaving not a single space behind; every opening and crevice in your body, including your mouth and eyes covered in painful bumps accompanied by high fever and severe body aches. Flat red spots transforming into fluid-filled lesions and soon oozing out yellow pus, evidently emitting a pungent odor to anyone who dared get close. The live virus present in the darkening crusty scabs that would soon fall off only to leave behind a deep pitted scarred filled complexion on anyone who was fortunate enough to survive. These scars would be forever remembered as the hallmark for the smallpox epidemic which tormented the world for over 3,000 years. (Riedel “Deadly Diseases”).