Small Pox

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Small Pox

Small Pox [Illustration by Shinod AP]

Fortunately, in April 1977, India was declared a small pox free country. Small pox was once a major killer throughout the world and its eradication has prevented two million deaths, a few hundred cases of blindness and 10-15 million cases of diseases.

Causative Agent

Small pox is an infectious disease caused by the variola virus.

Symptoms

  • Sudden fever
  • Headache
  • Backache
  • Vomiting
  • Occasional convulsions
  • Rashes appear on the third day of fever and pass through the successive stages of macule, papule, vesicle, pustule and scab with subsequent scarring.Current Status of Vaccination

    Now vaccination is not recommended because the disease has been eradicated, according to the World Health Organisation.