What is another name for smallpox vaccine?

What is another name for smallpox vaccine?

FDA licensed Smallpox (Vaccinia) Vaccine, Live, with the proprietary name ACAM2000, for active immunization against smallpox disease for persons determined to be at high risk for smallpox infection.

What is the name for the organism that causes smallpox?

A poxvirus called variola (Poxviridae family of viruses, genus Orthopoxvirus) causes smallpox. Variola is a relatively large brick-shaped virus that contains double-stranded DNA.

Does small pox still exist?

The last naturally occurring case of smallpox was reported in 1977. In 1980, the World Health Organization declared that smallpox had been eradicated. Currently, there is no evidence of naturally occurring smallpox transmission anywhere in the world.

How did the smallpox virus get its name?

Smallpox is a serious, contagious, and sometimes fatal infectious disease caused by a virus called the variola virus. The disease gets its name from the Latin word for “spotted” and refers to the small pus-filled blisters that appear on the face and body of an infected person. The smallpox vaccine offers…

When was Smallpox wiped out in the world?

Smallpox is a contagious, disfiguring and often deadly disease that has affected humans for thousands of years. Naturally occurring smallpox was wiped out worldwide by 1980 — the result of an unprecedented global immunization campaign. Samples of smallpox virus have been kept for research purposes.

Can a person die from the smallpox virus?

However, because any release of the virus could spread the disease quickly, government officials have taken numerous precautions to protect against this possibility, such as stockpiling smallpox vaccine. Most people who get smallpox survive. However, a few rare varieties of smallpox are almost always fatal.

Is there a cure or treatment for smallpox?

No cure or treatment for smallpox exists. A vaccine can prevent smallpox, but the risk of the vaccine’s side effects is too high to justify routine vaccination for people at low risk of exposure to the smallpox virus.

Why was smallpox so deadly?

One of the reasons smallpox was so dangerous and deadly is because it’s an airborne disease. Airborne diseases tend to spread fast. Coughing, sneezing, or direct contact with any bodily fluids could spread the smallpox virus. In addition, sharing contaminated clothing or bedding could lead to infection.

What is the origin of smallpox?

The origin of smallpox is unknown. The earliest evidence of the disease dates to the 3rd century BCE in Egyptian mummies . The disease historically occurred in outbreaks. In 18th-century Europe, it is estimated 400,000 people per year died from the disease, and one-third of the cases resulted in blindness.

How do you cure smallpox?

Treatment. No cure for smallpox exists. In the event of an infection, treatment would focus on relieving symptoms and keeping the person from becoming dehydrated. Antibiotics might be prescribed if the person also develops a bacterial infection in the lungs or on the skin.

Did smallpox come from animals?

Smallpox is not known to be transmitted by animals or insects. Humans are the only known carriers. It is believed that it originally began because of zoonosis, which is a process that involves transmission of a disease from an animal to a human.