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Article: Smallpox
- Article from:
- World of Microbiology and Immunology
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Smallpox
Smallpox is an infection caused by the
variola virus
, a member of the poxvirus family. Throughout history, smallpox has caused huge
epidemics
resulting in great suffering and enormous death tolls worldwide. In 1980, the
World Health Organization
(
WHO
) announced that a massive program of
vaccination
against the disease had resulted in the complete eradication of the virus (with the exception of stored virus stocks in two laboratories).
Smallpox is an extraordinarily contagious disease. The virus can spread by contact with victims, as well as in contaminated air droplets and even on the surfaces of objects used by other smallpox victims (books, blankets, etc.). After ...