Smallpox+-+Overview

**Smallpox: An Overview **    Smallpox was among the most horrible and gruesome disease known to science. It was the disease that killed more people than any other disease, including the Black Death which estimated 75 million deaths. Smallpox on the other hand killed 100 million people. The origins of smallpox are unknown to scientist, but smallpox was believed to be a harmless poxvirus that infected domestic animals in Asia and Africa (E.g Cowpox). After time scientists believed that the farmers in constant touch with the virus mutated it to a form that could thrive and replicate in human tissue. Research from Beatrice Hanh in 1999 indicated that the virus resided in African chimpanzees before they started effecting humans. The earliest evidence of humans being infected with smallpox virus comes from ancient Egyptian mummies. There are two strains of the Variola virus that cause smallpox; Variola Major and Variola Minor. __Variola Major__: more lethal strain that causes a severe illness with a death rate of around 30%. It is responsible for the two most dangerous types of smallpox; hemorrhagic smallpox and malignant smallpox. __Variola Minor__: causes a milder illness with a death rate of 1%. “Mild smallpox” is usually called alastrim. It leaves few scars.   Did you know that there are 4 different types of smallpox?     Did you know that about 30% of unvaccinated individuals died while 70% lived?     Did you know that smallpox can only infect humans?     Did you know that if you inhale a particle of smallpox you can come down with the    disease?

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