- Caused by the Variola virus.
- A viral disease unique to humans.
- Smallpox localizes in small blood vessels of the skin, mouth and throat.
- The Variola virus is a brick shaped virus that is up to 350 nanometers long and up to 270 nanometers wide.
- Attacks skin cells.
Variola virus.
Symptoms and progression of the disease:
- Symptoms first visible 7 - 17 days after infection.
- Initial symptoms include: fever, body aches, headaches, chills, and backache.
- After 48-72 hours of initial symptoms, a rash appears and turns into virus filled sosres which later scab over.
- Just after rash appears, the virus is highly contageous as it movies into the mucous membranes.
Variola filled sores of infected.
Common Methods of Transmission:
- Variola is aquired through the lungs.
- Commonly transmitted by breathing on othe people.
- Variola can stay active on surfaces for up to one week.
- Variola starts in the lungs, from there it enters the bloodstream and is spread all over the body.
- Infected person can be infectious for up to 3 weeks.
Treatment and Prevention:
- Current prevention is vaccination by the use of infectious vaccinia virus.
- Treatment is also done with vaccination, if done up to 3 days after exposure, it will negate or greatly reduce symptoms and suffering of the disease. Miscellaneous:
- Variola virus is thought to have originated in Asia between 400 and 1600 years ago.
- Unmistakable descriptions of smallpox first appeared in the 4th century AD in China and the 7th century in India.
- In Japan, the epidemic of 735-737 is believed to have killed as much as one-third of the population.
- Smallpox is now irradicated.
Smallpox
Description of virus that causes the disease.
Viral Specificity:
- Caused by the Variola virus.- A viral disease unique to humans.
- Smallpox localizes in small blood vessels of the skin, mouth and throat.
- The Variola virus is a brick shaped virus that is up to 350 nanometers long and up to 270 nanometers wide.
- Attacks skin cells.
Variola virus.Symptoms and progression of the disease:
- Symptoms first visible 7 - 17 days after infection.- Initial symptoms include: fever, body aches, headaches, chills, and backache.
- After 48-72 hours of initial symptoms, a rash appears and turns into virus filled sosres which later scab over.
- Just after rash appears, the virus is highly contageous as it movies into the mucous membranes.
Variola filled sores of infected.Common Methods of Transmission:
- Variola is aquired through the lungs.- Commonly transmitted by breathing on othe people.
- Variola can stay active on surfaces for up to one week.
- Variola starts in the lungs, from there it enters the bloodstream and is spread all over the body.
- Infected person can be infectious for up to 3 weeks.
Treatment and Prevention:
- Current prevention is vaccination by the use of infectious vaccinia virus.- Treatment is also done with vaccination, if done up to 3 days after exposure, it will negate or greatly reduce symptoms and suffering of the disease.
Miscellaneous:
- Variola virus is thought to have originated in Asia between 400 and 1600 years ago.
- Unmistakable descriptions of smallpox first appeared in the 4th century AD in China and the 7th century in India.
- In Japan, the epidemic of 735-737 is believed to have killed as much as one-third of the population.
- Smallpox is now irradicated.
Resources accessed:
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smallpoxwww.emedicinehealth.com/smallpox/article_em.htm