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Smallpox is a disease as old as time. In fact, experts are unsure of its possible origin because it is so far buried in antiquity. It is believed to have first appeared in Northeastern Africa around 10,000 BC (Shannon 2014). According to the Centers for Disease Control “The pox part of smallpox is derived from the Latin word for ‘spotted’ and refers to the raised bumps that appear on the face and body of an infected person” (“Smallpox Disease Overview” 2007). The transmission of this disease is rather simple. It is spread from person-to-person by inhalation, through direct contact with infected body fluids, from contaminated fomites, and even scab suspensions from an infected person in the air. The disease in humans has an incubation period of about 7-17 days. Symptoms include high fever, chills, head and body aches, vomiting, and small red spots in the infected person’s mouth and on their tongue. The most severe symptom, however, is the skin rash that spreads on those infected. It begins on the face, and migrates to the appendages of the body, especially the feet and hands. This type of spreading is known as centrifugal distribution (Shannon 2014).

There are two clinical forms of smallpox: Variola major and minor. Variola major is the most common and severe form. There are four types of Variola minor: Ordinary, modified, malignant, and hemorrhagic. Ordinary is the most common form, and its case-fatality rate is near 30%. Modified is a milder form and smallpox is rarely fatal in this case. Malignant smallpox’s fatality rate, however, is near 97%, and Hemorrhagic is roughly at 100%. Variola minor is less common and less severe than its counterpart. However, if a person survives this form, they have lifelong immunity against...

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...ll endemic in Africa and Asia in the late 1960s. Vaccination operations increased into the 1970s for this area, thankfully. All of these efforts resulted in its elimination in 1980. Nearly $300 million was spent on eradication efforts of this disease (Shannon 2014). Words: 822

References

“Disease Eradication.” 2014. College of Physicians of Philadelphia. http://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/disease-eradication (last accessed 23 April 2014).

“Edward Jenner (1749 - 1823).” 2014. BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/jenner_edward.shtml (last accessed 23 April 2014).

Shannon, G. “Smallpox.” 2014. Lecture, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, April 21, 2014.

“Smallpox Disease Overview.” 2007. Centers for Disease Control. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/overview/disease-facts.asp (last accessed 23 April 2014).