Overview of Smallpox Essay

This article focused on depopulation via smallpox. “Within just a few generations, the continents of the Americas were virtually emptied of their native inhabitants – some academics estimate that approximately 20 million people may have died in the years following the European invasion – up to 95% of the population of the Americas.” The article goes on to describe the transmission process of smallpox, incubation period, and symptoms of the disease. It then discusses the fact that diseases such as smallpox, influenza and measles were a product of the European society, specifically livestock farming and close interaction with domesticated livestock. Though smallpox outbreaks would occur in Europe, killing major portions of the population, some would survive and build immunities which they genetically passed to the next generations. Because the Native Americans had no exposure to smallpox and no genetic immunities, exposure to this virus was deadly all across the continent. “More victims of colonization were killed by Eurasian germs, than by either the gun or the sword, making germs the deadliest agent of conquest.”

For a millennia, generations watched helplessly as their children fell prey to the devastating disease. But after rigorous vaccination campaigns in the 1960’s, the World Health Organization had confirmed the eradication of smallpox in 1979 with the last naturally occurring case being reported in 1977. In order to ensure another epidemic on the same scale smallpox doesn’t plague the human population, vaccinations against infectious diseases such as polio, diphtheria and rubella should be enforced without exclusions.

Smallpox was a highly infectious virus that spread easily through contact with infected people or objects contaminated with the disease. The vrius was deadly and killed thirty percent of people who caught it. The disease was known as a “brick-shaped virus,” which originated from the variola virus. The disease spread when an infected person sneezed or coughed. The droplets from their nose or mouth spread and would then infect another person. The virus could also spread through contaminated objects, such as clothing, or bedding. Most commonly, smallpox entered the body through the nose or the throat. The disease then spread to the lungs, where it grew and traveled to the lymphatic system. The first symptoms included vomiting, head and body aches,

Smallpox was most commonly brought to America during the eighteenth century by English immigrants or recently

Smallpox is a viral infection caused by Variola major. This infection is currently one of the most dreaded diseases, and is believed to be more dangerous than the enemy’s sword. The exposure is usually an infection of the respiratory tract. After exposure, early symptoms are: headaches, back aches, fever, vomiting, discomfort, and feeling out of sorts. These symptoms go away usually in two days, and the patient feels better. Then about two days later, the patient has a flustered face, and lesions on the mouth, throat, and nasal membranes. At 5 days past exposure, red rashes and bumps appear on the skin, bleeding through skin, and mucous membranes. If the patients bleeds through their eyes, gums, or nose, the patient will not live much longer, but that is not usually the case. The bumps may touch each other or they may be separate from each other. If the bumps do not touch, the patients has a good chance of surviving. But if the bumps do touch, the patient has a forty percent chance of surviving. Dehydration is common in patients because it may be painful or difficult to drink. Around day ten, the bumps will become soft, and blisters will form. The fluid in the bumps is absorbed because of dehydration. A smell often comes from cracked bumps, and a second bacterial infection may occur due to the openings in the body. Two weeks after initial symptoms, the bumps and blisters are replaced by scabs. One week later the fever disappears, the patient returns to a normal life, and the

Smallpox is caused by the virus variola, also known by its family name Poxviridae. It comes in four variola forms: ordinary, modified, flat, and hemorrhagic. The flat and hemorrhagic strains of smallpox are the most severe and usually result in death.

Imagine a quick spreading rash throughout the entire body, leaving not a single space behind; every opening and crevice in your body, including your mouth and eyes covered in painful bumps accompanied by high fever and severe body aches. Flat red spots transforming into fluid-filled lesions and soon oozing out yellow pus, evidently emitting a pungent odor to anyone who dared get close. The live virus present in the darkening crusty scabs that would soon fall off only to leave behind a deep pitted scarred filled complexion on anyone who was fortunate enough to survive. These scars would be forever remembered as the hallmark for the smallpox epidemic which tormented the world for over 3,000 years. (Riedel “Deadly Diseases”).

Smallpox is a highly infectious and fatal disease caused by the Variola virus. It causes extremely painful pustules to sprout across the entire body. Spread from human to human, it has since been eradicated from the world through the efforts of the World Health Organization. However, there is a distinct possibility that it may be reintroduced through bioterrorism. Biological weapons may cause another pandemic to erupt across the world and kill millions of individuals. Through constant vigilance and careful planning, mankind can prevent this scenario.

population could be in danger. This is because portions of our population are unvaccinated which means they have the potential of contracting the diseases and spreading it. The large population could be a danger if this happens which would result in chaos throughout the world. Smallpox as a weapon could turn over any plan that is put in place even post vaccination and cause many deaths. It is the mode of transmission, low dose, and ability to cause a severe disease that makes it widely feared as a biological weapon (Weiss ea atl., 2004).

Smallpox is transmitted via face-to-face contact and /or exchange of infected bodily fluids with the affected individual. The disease is transmitted to a lesser extent via infected clothing and bedding. Humans are the only natural host for the virus. Therefore, there is no reservoir and the virus is not transmittable through animals or insects. The incubation period of the virus is nearly 2 weeks (7 to 17 days) during which the person is asymptomatic and non-contagious (Fenner et al., 129).

The smallpox outbreak that led to the discovery of the smallpox vaccine, and the eventual success of smallpox eradication are remarkable achievements in medical, epidemiological as well as the public health history. Smallpox is one of the most devastating and fatal infectious diseases that plagued the earth, killing 3 out 10 infected persons and leaving survivors with permanent scars, and loss of vision in some. An astute observation of his patients, led Edward Jenner to the development of the smallpox vaccine in 1796 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2016; Theves, Biagini, & Crubezy, 2014). A lesson learned from this feat is that vaccines can help eliminate infectious pathogens through immunization. Immunization is a proven

Smallpox is a highly human contagious disease caused by the virus Variola. Variola’s Latin meaning is spotted. Smallpox is thought to have begun its infectious mission in Egypt around 3,000 years ago. The earliest evidence for the illness is from the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses V, who died in 1157 B.C. His mummified remains show evidence of spots and scars on his body thought to be evidence of Smallpox.

Of greatest concern is the potential use of smallpox as a biological weapon. The United States and Russia are the only two countries to officially house remaining samples of the

Smallpox is a transmittable disease, and a deadly one that has affected humans for thousands of years, also known as Variola. It was developed worldwide in 1980. Currently there are no treatments or cure are available for smallpox, although the vaccination’s side effects is too risky for the people who are at low risk to the deadly virus. The symptoms of smallpox will appear around twelve to fourteen days after the person received the disease. A person who has been incubated will stay there from seven to seventeen days. They will look and feel healthy and cannot spread the disease to others. During the incubation period the signs and symptoms include, fever, headache, severe fatigue, vomiting, and discomfort. After a couples days a red,

Smallpox is caused by a virus called “Variola Major” and “Variola Minor” which causes the skin to rash up all over the body. It is very infections and can often cause death. Smallpox can be contracted by human contacted. Small pox was first discovered 3000 years in Egypt and/or India. The first documented death was the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses V”. Many people were infected by this, which ended up destroying world emperors. Which caused cities to fall. There was and is no cure available for Smallpox but vaccinations can be used to significantly reduce the infection from occurring. The disease Is the worst disease in history because in the 20th century it Is approximated that over 300 million people died because of it. The disease is known to