Introduction to smallpox



Name of disease	Smallpox
Name of causative agent	Variola virus
Type of microbe	Virus
Viral:	Double strand DNA dependant RNA
·      Naked or Enveloped	Enveloped
Epidemiology:
·      Geographic Prevalence	Was worldwide now zero
·      Average rates of infection	Was about 400,000 deaths a year now zero
·      Reservoir(s)	Humans
·      Main transmission mode(s)	Person to person
Pathology:
·      Major tissues/organs affected	All major tissues and organs
·      Major signs/symptoms	Fever, aches, chills, vomiting and a rash that becomes pus filled sores
·      Sequalae?	Bone lesions and deformed joints
·      Latency?	7-17 days
Treatment:
·      Main treatment methods	Antibiotics
·      Typical length of treatment	17 days
·      Prophylactic measures	Vaccination