Smallpox overview: Difference between revisions
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'''Smallpox''' is a contagious [[disease]] unique to humans.<ref name=Sherris>{{cite book | author = Ryan KJ, Ray CG (editors) | title = Sherris Medical Microbiology | edition = 4th ed. | pages = 525–7 | publisher = McGraw Hill | year = 2004 | pages = 525–8 |isbn = 0838585299 }}</ref> Smallpox is caused by either of two [[virus (biology)|virus]] variants named ''Variola major'' and ''Variola minor''. The deadlier form, ''V. major'', has a mortality rate of 30–35%, while ''V. minor'' causes a milder form of disease called ''alastrim'' and kills ~1% of its victims.<ref name=Behbehani_1983>{{cite journal |author=Behbehani AM |title=The smallpox story: life and death of an old disease |journal=Microbiol Rev |volume=47 |issue=4 |pages=455-509 |year=1983 | url = http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=6319980 |pmid=6319980}}</ref><ref name=Sherris /> Long-term side-effects for survivors include the characteristic skin scars. Occasional side effects include blindness due to corneal ulcerations and infertility in male survivors. | '''Smallpox''' is a contagious [[disease]] unique to humans.<ref name=Sherris>{{cite book | author = Ryan KJ, Ray CG (editors) | title = Sherris Medical Microbiology | edition = 4th ed. | pages = 525–7 | publisher = McGraw Hill | year = 2004 | pages = 525–8 |isbn = 0838585299 }}</ref> Smallpox is caused by either of two [[virus (biology)|virus]] variants named ''Variola major'' and ''Variola minor''. The deadlier form, ''V. major'', has a mortality rate of 30–35%, while ''V. minor'' causes a milder form of disease called ''alastrim'' and kills ~1% of its victims.<ref name=Behbehani_1983>{{cite journal |author=Behbehani AM |title=The smallpox story: life and death of an old disease |journal=Microbiol Rev |volume=47 |issue=4 |pages=455-509 |year=1983 | url = http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=6319980 |pmid=6319980}}</ref><ref name=Sherris /> Long-term side-effects for survivors include the characteristic skin scars. Occasional side effects include blindness due to corneal ulcerations and infertility in male survivors. | ||
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==Historical Perspective== | |||
Up until 1977, [[smallpox]] has been a very prevalent part of human history. The [[disease]] is estimated to be at least 16,000 years old and played a major role in the history of Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, etc. The first clinical evidence of the diseases was found in an Egyptian mummy, Ramses V. Smallpox has also been used as a weapon throughout history. The most recent example was the weaponization of smallpox during World War II. After successful [[vaccination]] campaigns throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the WHO certified the eradication of smallpox in 1979.<ref name=WHO_Factsheet /> To this day, smallpox is the only human infectious disease to have been completely eradicated from nature.<ref>{{cite journal | author = De Cock KM | title = (Book Review) The Eradication of Smallpox: Edward Jenner and The First and Only Eradication of a Human Infectious Disease | journal = Nature Medicine | year = 2001 | volume = 7 | pages = 15–6 | url = http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/v7/n1/full/nm0101_15b.html}}</ref> | |||
==Epidemiology and Demographics== | |||
Smallpox killed an estimated 60 million [[Europe]]ans, including five reigning European monarchs, in the 18th century alone. Up to 30% of those infected, including 80% of the children under 5 years of age, died from the disease, and one third of the survivors became blind.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Barquet N, Domingo P |title=Smallpox: the triumph over the most terrible of the ministers of death |journal=Ann. Intern. Med. |volume=127 |issue=8 Pt 1 |pages=635-42 |year=1997 |pmid=9341063 |doi=}}</ref><ref>[http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1200696 Edward Jenner and the history of smallpox and vaccination]</ref> | Smallpox killed an estimated 60 million [[Europe]]ans, including five reigning European monarchs, in the 18th century alone. Up to 30% of those infected, including 80% of the children under 5 years of age, died from the disease, and one third of the survivors became blind.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Barquet N, Domingo P |title=Smallpox: the triumph over the most terrible of the ministers of death |journal=Ann. Intern. Med. |volume=127 |issue=8 Pt 1 |pages=635-42 |year=1997 |pmid=9341063 |doi=}}</ref><ref>[http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1200696 Edward Jenner and the history of smallpox and vaccination]</ref> | ||
Smallpox was responsible for an estimated 300–500 million deaths in the 20th century. As recently as 1967, the [[World Health Organization]] ([[WHO]]) estimated that 15 million people contracted the disease and that two million died in that year.<ref name=WHO_Factsheet>{{cite web | title=Smallpox | work=WHO Factsheet | url=http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/smallpox/en/ | accessdate=2007-09-22 | Smallpox was responsible for an estimated 300–500 million deaths in the 20th century. As recently as 1967, the [[World Health Organization]] ([[WHO]]) estimated that 15 million people contracted the disease and that two million died in that year.<ref name=WHO_Factsheet>{{cite web | title=Smallpox | work=WHO Factsheet | url=http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/smallpox/en/ | accessdate=2007-09-22}}</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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Revision as of 04:12, 15 December 2012
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Smallpox is a contagious disease unique to humans.[1] Smallpox is caused by either of two virus variants named Variola major and Variola minor. The deadlier form, V. major, has a mortality rate of 30–35%, while V. minor causes a milder form of disease called alastrim and kills ~1% of its victims.[2][1] Long-term side-effects for survivors include the characteristic skin scars. Occasional side effects include blindness due to corneal ulcerations and infertility in male survivors.
Historical Perspective
Up until 1977, smallpox has been a very prevalent part of human history. The disease is estimated to be at least 16,000 years old and played a major role in the history of Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, etc. The first clinical evidence of the diseases was found in an Egyptian mummy, Ramses V. Smallpox has also been used as a weapon throughout history. The most recent example was the weaponization of smallpox during World War II. After successful vaccination campaigns throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the WHO certified the eradication of smallpox in 1979.[3] To this day, smallpox is the only human infectious disease to have been completely eradicated from nature.[4]
Epidemiology and Demographics
Smallpox killed an estimated 60 million Europeans, including five reigning European monarchs, in the 18th century alone. Up to 30% of those infected, including 80% of the children under 5 years of age, died from the disease, and one third of the survivors became blind.[5][6]
Smallpox was responsible for an estimated 300–500 million deaths in the 20th century. As recently as 1967, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 15 million people contracted the disease and that two million died in that year.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ryan KJ, Ray CG (editors) (2004). Sherris Medical Microbiology (4th ed. ed.). McGraw Hill. pp. 525&ndash, 8. ISBN 0838585299.
- ↑ Behbehani AM (1983). "The smallpox story: life and death of an old disease". Microbiol Rev. 47 (4): 455–509. PMID 6319980.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Smallpox". WHO Factsheet. Retrieved 2007-09-22.
- ↑ De Cock KM (2001). "(Book Review) The Eradication of Smallpox: Edward Jenner and The First and Only Eradication of a Human Infectious Disease". Nature Medicine. 7: 15&ndash, 6.
- ↑ Barquet N, Domingo P (1997). "Smallpox: the triumph over the most terrible of the ministers of death". Ann. Intern. Med. 127 (8 Pt 1): 635–42. PMID 9341063.
- ↑ Edward Jenner and the history of smallpox and vaccination