Smallpox
Smallpox is a rash illness caused by the variola virus.
Smallpox is a serious, contagious and sometimes fatal
infectious disease caused by the smallpox virus called variola. The
name "smallpox" is derived from the Latin word for “spotted” and refers to
the fluid and pus-filled blisters on the face and body of an infected
person.
Smallpox outbreaks have occurred from time to time for thousands of
years, but the disease was completely eliminated after a successful
worldwide vaccination program.
The last case of smallpox in the United States was in 1949. The last
naturally occurring case in the world was in Somalia in 1977.
Although smallpox is not present in the world at this
time, there is increasing concern that the virus could be introduced
intentionally as a weapon of bio terrorism.
A vaccine is available for smallpox that provides a high
level of immunity for 3 to 5 years.
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