Smallpox

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Pandemics and epidemics are diseases that affect many people all over the world. They cause millions of deaths and leave many people sick. Most epidemics are contagious and spread very quickly. One kind of epidemic is the variola virus. Variola virus is most known by the name smallpox. it got it’s nickname from the small blisters that appear on the face and arms. Smallpox is believed to have originated in Egypt or Northeastern Africa about 10,000 years ago. It soon reached Asia during the middle ages and reached Europe in 700 A.D.In 18th Century Europe it killed about 400,000 people a year. In the 20th Century alone, it has killed about 300 million. This disease has also led to the downfall of the Aztec Empire and killed many royal figures from France, Russia and other countries.
Most people do not know but, there are four types of the smallpox virus, variola major,variola minor, hemorrhagic smallpox and malignant smallpox. Variola major kills 30% of those infected with the disease while variola minor only kills 1% of those who are infected. Hemorrhagic smallpox causes the organs...

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