LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Smallpox: Diseases
built 201 days ago
Smallpox was a devastating scourge. It was a highly contagious viral disease that killed up to half of those infected and seriously maimed survivors, through severe scarring of the skin with deep pock marks, blindness and infertility. However, those who did survive enjoyed protective immunity from further infection for the rest of their lives. The smallpox virus, or variola – its scientific name – exist in more than one form, some producing more severe illness than others. Historical and epidemiological evidence suggests that South Asia was home to the more virulent strain of the disease – variola major, which sometimes mutated into the deadly haemorrhagic form of smallpox. On the other hand, the less virulent variola minor – ... known as alastrim – was commonest in Europe and North Africa, where mortality levels were lower and haemorrhagic cases extremely rare.
Source:
Smallpox is a contagious, disfiguring and often deadly disease caused by the variola virus. It's believed to have first appeared in northeastern Africa or south-central Asia nearly 12,000 years ago. Since then, few other illnesses have had such a profound effect on human health and history. In the 20th century alone, an estimated 300 million people died of smallpox.
Source:
Smallpox is highly contagious, although less so than other infectious diseases. Smallpox is not notably infectious in the prodromal period—viral shedding is usually delayed until the appearance of the rash. Smallpox is transmitted primarily through prolonged social contact or direct contact with infected body fluids or contaminated objects (fomites) such as bedding or clothes. Infection in the natural disease will be via the lungs. The fact that there has been no recurrence of wild smallpox since its elimination thirty years ago makes the assumptions made at the start of the elimination campaign - that human smallpox carriers do not exist, and that the virus does not exist outside humans - some of the most certain facts in medical science.
Source:
Smallpox immunity may last a lifetime - 13:49 18 August 03 NewScientist.com news service. Scientist find reasonable levels of circulating antibodies in persons vaccinated against smallpox more than 30 years ago. They speculate that many persons may be immune and that others would have milder disease and be less contagious. This may not be the whole story. things First, there is reason to be believe that cellular immunity is critical. Second, milder disease should be more contagious because people are not bed-ridden but can get around.
Source:
Smallpox has been eliminated as a human disease. But the virus has not. Two samples remain in scientific laboratories. They have been kept for the purpose of research. Has the time now come to destroy these last two samples of variola virus ...?
Source:
Smallpox is spread from one person to another by large droplets from the mouth and throat of people who have the disease. Smallpox virus is spread by coughing, sneezing, or talking. Contact with an infected person must be fairly close (within about 6 feet) in order for spread to occur.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Diseases