14 Facts About Smallpox

Smallpox was an infectious disease caused by one of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor.

Smallpox is one of two infectious diseases to have been eradicated, the other being rinderpest in 2011.

Smallpox virus tended to attack skin cells, causing the characteristic pimples, or macules, associated with the disease.

Smallpox was caused by infection with Variola virus, which belongs to the family Poxviridae, subfamily Chordopoxvirinae, and genus Orthopoxvirus.

Smallpox was not notably infectious in the prodromal period and viral shedding was usually delayed until the appearance of the rash, which was often accompanied by lesions in the mouth and pharynx.

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Smallpox was highly contagious, but generally spread more slowly and less widely than some other viral diseases, perhaps because transmission required close contact and occurred after the onset of the rash.

Smallpox was not known to be transmitted by insects or animals and there was no asymptomatic carrier state.

Smallpox vaccination provides a high level of immunity for three to five years and decreasing immunity thereafter.

Smallpox was probably introduced into China during the 1st century CE from the southwest, and in the 6th century was carried from China to Japan.

Smallpox is not clearly described in either the Old or New Testaments of the Bible or in the literature of the Greeks or Romans.

Smallpox was introduced into the Caribbean island of Hispaniola in 1507, and into the mainland in 1520, when Spanish settlers from Hispaniola arrived in Mexico, inadvertently carrying smallpox with them.

Smallpox's method involved exposing smallpox pus to peat smoke, burying it in the ground with camphor for up to 8 years, and then inserting the matter into a person's skin using a knife, and covering the incision with a cabbage leaf.

Smallpox's feared for the safety of her son, Paul, so much that she made sure that large crowds were kept at bay and sought to isolate him.

Smallpox later had photographs retouched to make his pockmarks less apparent.