1. Smallpox Variola Virus

2. Ecology • First appeared in Northeastern Africa around 10,000 BC. • First named in England at the end of the 15th century to distinguish from syphilis • Before 1967 25 lakh people died a year due to smallpox

3. Disease • Causes viral infections • Disease of the skin tissue • Infects many internal organs • First infects Lymph nodes, and respiratory tract • Transferred through blood stream

4. Taxonomy • Caused by pox virus, also known as variola virus • Brick shaped cells • Two forms • Variola Major (>20%) • Variola Minor (<1 %)

5. Symptoms • High Fever usually 101- 104 degrees • Head and body aches with occasional vomiting • Rash forms on body starting on tongue and then to the mouth • Raised bumps that are puss filled and blistered • Survivors are left with permanent scars Bumps first form orally

6. Diagnostic Tests • Incubation period- 7-17 days; not contagious • Initial symptoms- 2-4 days; sometimes contagious • Early rash- about 4 days; most contagious • Pustular rash- about 5 days; contagious • Pustules and scabs- about 5 days; contagious • Resolving scabs- about 6 days; contagious • Scabs resolved- not contagious

7. Symptoms

8. Treatment • There is no treatment for smallpox • There is a vaccine that can be given • Not given with a needle • Bifurcated needle (two pronged) dipped in vaccine solution • Made from a virus called vaccinia which is a virus related to smallpox • Prick skin on upper arm many times (enough to draw 1 or 2 drops of blood) • This can last 3-5 years • Effective 95% of the time

9. Side Effects of the Vaccine • Mild reactions include sore arm, fever, and body aches • Some people experience serious to life threatening side effects • Side effects • Scar where the vaccine was given • Rash • Fever • Head ache • Body ache Days 4-21 after smallpox vaccination

10. People who should not get the Vaccine • Pregnant women • HIV positive people • People with weakened immune systems or that are taking med. that suppress the immune systems • People receiving treatment for cancer • Children under 12 months • People who have received a transplant • And many others

11. Morbidity & Mortality • Considered “ the most terrible of all the ministers of Death” • Last natural death due to smallpox was in the case of Ali Maow Maalin, a cook in Somalia, Africa in October 1977 • The last person to die of smallpox was Janet Parker, a British medical Photographer, following a leak in the laboratory in 1978 • On Dec 9th 1979 the World Health Organization declared smallpox as officially eradicated, the world over

12. Bibliography Center of Disease Control,Smallpox Disease. (January 2003). Questions and answeres. Retrieved April 15, 2003, from http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpx/vaccination/facts.asp Center of Disease Control. The Smallpox Story and the smallpox vaccine.(April 10, 2003). Retrieved April 15, 2003, from http://stanford.edu/group/virus/pox/history.html Center of Disease Control. Vaccine Overview. (March 31, 2003). Retrieved from http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smalpox/vaccination/vaccination Medi Dates. Smallpox and figures. ( no date). Retrieved April 21, 2003 from http://www.manbir-online.com/htm3/new.38.htm.