preview

Smallpox Vaccine

Decent Essays

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 …show more content…

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

Get Access