BBy Jodie Marler

There are two types of smallpox:

Variola Major

Variola Minor

Severe More common High fever More extensive

rash 30-35% death

rate

Less common presentation

Less severe disease

Death rates are 1% or less

Smallpox localizes in small blood vessels in the skin, mouth, and throat.

Starts with a maculopapular (red and raised) rash that changes into raised, fluid filled blisters.

My grandmother had smallpox in 1925 and survived. She was nine years old.

The only memory she had of having the disease was that she remembered the doctor coming into her house and saying, “This is definitely smallpox…I can smell it”.

The doctor told her not to scratch because it would leave scars. She never scratched and had no scars afterward.

The only medication that was used was vaseline. They spread it all over her body.

She was lucky. Many people died from smallpox.

First symptoms appear 12-14 days after becoming infected

Incubation period is 7-17 days and is not contagious during this time

Following the incubation period, a sudden onset of flu-like signs and symptoms occurs. These include:FeverOverall discomfortHeadacheSevere fatigue Severe back painSometimes vomiting, diarrhea or both

• A few days after the first symptoms occur, flat red spots appear first on the face, hands and forearms.

• Within a day or two, many of the lesions turn into small blisters filled with fluid, that eventually turns to pus.

• Scabs form in about eight days and fall off leaving deep, pitted scars.

Smallpox is a virus that has been eradicated

The last known case was in 1978

It has been eradicated because of the vaccine.

Edward Jenner developed the first immunization using cowpox in 1796

Smallpox vaccine was the first vaccine ever to be developed

WHO initiated its global smallpox eradication campaign in 1967

Smallpox is caused by infection with variola virus, which belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus, the family Poxviridae and subfamily chordopoxvirinae.

It is a large rectangular virus measuring approximately 350 nm by 270nm.

Poxviruses are unique among DNA viruses because they replicate in the cytoplasm of the cell rather than the nucleus.

Occurs through inhalation of airborne virus

Prolonged face-to-face contact

Direct contact through body fluids

Contaminated objects such as bedding or clothing

Rarely can be transmitted by air in enclosed spaces such as a bus

The only Smallpox viruses in the world are in labs.There is worry of countries using it as a biological weapon.Vaccines are kept “just in case” of an outbreak.If immunized within a few days of being exposed, it can lessen the degree of the disease.

CNN Health Infectious Diseases Aug 10, 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2012

http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/smallpox/DS00424.html

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Small Pox October 27, 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smallpox

Medline Plus Smallpox, Oct. 10, 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2012. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/smallpox.html

MayoClinic Smallpox , Aug. 2,2011. Retrieved 25 October 2012. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/smallpox/DS00424/DSECTION=causes