|
|
|
|
Home / Health / Diseases and Conditions
Highly Contagious Smallpox
By:Ryan Fyfe
Smallpox, a highly contagious disease, is unique only to humans. The smallpox virus is caused by two virus variants called Variola major and Variola minor. Variola major is the more deadly form of the virus; it usually has a mortality rte of 20-40 percent of those that are infected with the virus. Variola minor on the other hand is much less severe and only kills 1% of its victims. Neither of the Variola's are bugs that you want to get. Avoid them at all costs!
Due to ulcerations of the cornea, many survivors of the smallpox virus are left in one or both of their eyes. Often times they will also have constant skin scarring. Over the 20th century the smallpox virus was responsible for an estimated 200-450 million deaths. After successfully completing several vaccination campaigns the World Health Organization(WHO) in 1979 stated that smallpox virus had been eradicated. Cultures of the virus are always kept at the Disease Control and Prevention which is located in the United States of America, as well as in the Institue of Virus Preparations that is in Siberia, Russia. After 1970 the vaccination was stopped in most places of the world, as the risks of the vaccination include death, among other side effects that aren't meant to joke around with.
After the anthraz attacks on the United Sates in 2001, there have been several concerns that smallpox has/will resurface and possibly become a virus for us in bioterrorism. These concerns have in turn raised more concerns about the availability of vaccine stocks. The concerns are soo great in fact that, President George W. Bush of the U.S.A. has ordered all of his American military personnel to be vaccinated against smallpox and has implemented a voluntary program for vaccinating emergency medical personnel.
Article Source: http://www.dailynewarticles.com
Feel free to reprint this article as long as you keep the article, this caption and author biography in tact with all hyperlinks.
Ryan Fyfe is the owner and operator of Smallpox Information - www.smallpox-information.com, which is the best site on the internet for all smallpox related information.
More Articles from Diseases and Conditions Category:
Alcohol Addiction: Do Not Overlook This Fatal Addiction
Alcohol Addiction: Do Not Overlook This Fatal Addiction
Advice On Dealing With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Diabetes Treatment: Improving Your Health with Relaxation Therapy
Bird Flu Virus Is Deadly
Beat Dementia. 5 Secrets to a Better Memory
Alcohol and High Blood Pressure, Fact or Fantasy
Diabetes Prevention: Reducing The Risk In Men
Lowering Your Cholesterol With Medications
Getting Your Hypertension Under Control
When Snoring Becomes a Problem
Can Medication Cure Panic Attack?
How To Identify What Is Exercise Induced Asthma In 3 Simple Steps
Diverticulosis-Treatment and Prevention
Lower Back Pain That Refused To Budge
|
|
