Monday, October 5, 2009

smal pox


The diseaseAccording to the smallpox is an acute, contagious, and sometimes fatal disease caused by the variola virus. Symptoms of smallpox begin with high fever, head and body aches, and sometimes vomiting. A rash follows that spreads and progresses to raised bumps and pus-filled blisters that crust, scab, and fall off after about three weeks, leaving a pitted scar.
A person exposed to smallpox virus will initially have no symptoms and is not contagious. Sometime between 7 and 17 days later, symptoms will begin. The person becomes most contagious once the rash begins, and remains contagious until the last smallpox scab falls off. it is spread through the air when an infected person breathes, talks, laughs, or coughs
it can also be spread by infected clothing or bed linens
it can spread in any climate or season
there is no treatment or cure
few doctors would know smallpox if they saw it
people who survive it are left with ugly scars on their bodies or face, and some become blind
30% or more of people who contract smallpox die

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