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What You Should Know About. . .
Smallpox
What is Smallpox?
Smallpox is caused by variola virus.
When was the last case of Smallpox reported in the United States?
Smallpox infection was eliminated from the world in 1977.
What is the incubation period?
The incubation period is about 12 days (range: 7 to 17 days) following exposure.
What are the symptoms?
Initial symptoms include high fever, fatigue, and head and back aches. A characteristic rash, most prominent on the face, arms, and legs, follows in 2-3 days. The rash starts with flat red lesions that evolve at the same rate. Lesions become pus-filled and begin to crust early in the second week. Scabs develop and then separate and fall off after about 3-4 weeks. The majority of patients with smallpox recover, but death occurs in up to 30% of cases.
How is Smallpox spread?
Smallpox is spread from one person to another by infected saliva droplets that expose a susceptible person having face-to-face contact with the ill person. Persons with smallpox are most infectious during the first week of illness, because that is when the largest amount of virus is present in saliva. However, some risk of transmission lasts until all scabs have fallen off.
What about immunization against Smallpox?
Routine vaccination against smallpox ended in 1972. The level of immunity, if any, among persons who were vaccinated before 1972 is uncertain; therefore, these persons are assumed to be susceptible.
Vaccination against smallpox is not recommended to prevent the disease in the general public and therefore is not available.
What about immunizations for people exposed to the disease?
In people exposed to smallpox, the vaccine can lessen the severity of or even prevent illness if given within 4 days after exposure. Vaccine against smallpox contains another live virus called vaccinia. The vaccine does not contain smallpox virus.
Is there vaccine available?
The United States currently has an emergency supply of smallpox vaccine.
Are there plans to manufacture more vaccine in case of a bioterrorism attack using smallpox?
Yes. In 2000, CDC awarded a contract to a vaccine manufacturer to produce additional doses of smallpox vaccine.
Is there treatment for Smallpox?
There is no proven treatment for smallpox but research to evaluate new antiviral agents is ongoing. Patients with smallpox can benefit from supportive therapy (intravenous fluids, medicine to control fever or pain, etc.) and antibiotics for any secondary bacterial infections that occur.
Are we expecting a smallpox attack?
We are not expecting a smallpox attack, but the recent events that include the use of biological agents as weapons have heightened our awareness of the possibility of such an attack.
Is there an immediate smallpox threat?
At this time we have no information that suggests an imminent smallpox threat.
Addtional Information can be found at:
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