Smallpox is an acute, contagious disease caused by the variola virus, mainly transmitted through the airbourne route via droplet spread of close personal contact for extended periods.
Smallpox is an acute, contagious disease caused by the variola virus, mainly transmitted through the airbourne route via droplet spread of close personal contact for extended periods.
Patients with the smallpox virus do not exhibit symptoms for 7 to 17 days. However, once the incubation period (or virus development phase) was over, the following flu-like symptoms are likely to occur:
These symptoms will then go away within two to three days, with relief of symptoms. However a rash will appear on the face and then spread to the hands, forearms, and the main part of the body. The person would be highly contagious until the rash disappeared. Within two days of appearance, the rash will develop into abscesses filled with fluid and pus. The abscesses will then break open and scab over, leaving pit mark scars. Until the scabs fall off, the patient remains contagious.
There is no known cure for smallpox virus, except for early prevention through variola virus vaccination and supportive care. If specimen skin sample is requested, precautions are strictly enforced with the use of gloves and masks to reduce the risk of transmission.
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