Smallpox+and+its+transmission

=Smallpox and its transmission:= Smallpox is an ancient and modern virus that is non discriminatory to all races, social classes and ages.

As you can see, smallpox is characterized by the skin rash with fluid containing vesicles that enlarge to contain pus. smallpox is a very severe and contagious disease as the virus gains access through the respiratory route of the nose and mouth. here the virus multiplies in the mucus membrane, were it spreads to the lymph nodes and enters the blood stream to other internal organs. After this incubation period of 10-14days the patient feels ill, with high temperatures, headaches, muscle pain and vomiting. The skin rash follows initially creating spots on the shin with progression, theses spots become raised lesions which fill with fluid. In the final stages, these lesions become infected and form pustules. The smallpox virus can be transmitted at anytime, as individuals contaminate clothing, bedding or inanimate objects that have come into contact. Also nasal secretions and coughing of the infected can also transmit the virus. Bibliography for this page: Image: [] Written: Ewald, W 1994, Evolution of Infectious Diseases, pp. 35-55, Oxford University Press, New York, USA. Luby, J 1981, Infectious Diseases in Sanford, J (ed.), The Science and Practice of Clinical Medicine, pp. 108-109, Grune and Stratton, New York, USA Oldstone, M 1998, Viruses, Plagues and History, Oxford University Press, New York, USA.