General Information About Smallpox
Smallpox (Variola) is a deadly infectious disease caused by the Variola virus, characterized by high fever and pus-filled rashes all over the body. Thanks to vaccination campaigns, it was declared completely eradicated globally by the World Health Organization in 1980. Today, it does not actively exist in nature and is only kept in controlled laboratories.
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
You can access detailed information about the disease under the headings below.
How Was It Eradicated?
The only reservoir for the disease was humans (it did not harbor in animals). Through effective and widespread vaccination campaigns, the chain of human-to-human transmission of the virus was broken, preventing its survival in nature.
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