What is Smallpox?

Smallpox is a contagious, serious and occasionally fatal viral disease. Smallpox is caused by the variola virus that affected human populations thousands of years ago. Except for laboratory samples, the variola virus has been eliminated. However, in the aftermath of the events of 9/11, there is a heightened concern that the variola virus might be used as a weapon in bioterrorism.

Smallpox affects only the human beings. Animals and insects are not affected by it. There are 2 types of smallpox: variola minor and variola major. Variola major is the most common and severe form and has an estimated death rate of about 30%. Variola minor is a much less frequent form with an estimated death rate of less than 1%.

It is most efficiently spread from one person to another by breathing in airborne respiratory droplets of discharged from an infected person. It generally requires direct and fairly prolonged face-to-face contact. It can be spread through direct contact with infected body fluids or contaminated objects such as bedding and clothing. Rarely, it has also been spread by virus carried in the air in enclosed settings such as buildings, trains and buses.

Symptoms

Smallpox has an incubation period of about 12-14 days from the time of exposure to the actual onset of symptoms. There is a sudden onset of fever, headache, backache, vomiting, marked prostration and even delirium. There are rashes on the chest, abdomen and back. The rashes last up to 20 days or longer.

Diagnosis

A diagnosis of smallpox is made using an electron microscope to identify the virus in the fluid from papules, urine, or in patient's blood prior to the appearance of the papular rash.

This was some information on smallpox. Hope this is useful for you.