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Thirty years ago, on 8 May 1980, the World Health Organization certified that smallpox had been eradicated globally. For the first time in history, mankind had conquered a disease. It was certainly the greatest achievement of twentieth century medicine. Smallpox, a devastating, highly contagious disease, was caused by either of two virus variants named Variola major and Variola minor. Historical and epidemiological evidence suggests that South Asia was home to the more virulent strain of the disease, variola major, which sometimes mutated into the deadly haemorrhagic form of smallpox. Variola minor, also known as alastrim, was most common in Europe and North Africa, where mortality levels were lower. It killed up to half of those infected and seriously maimed survivors. Long-term side effects included the characteristic skin scars on the face, neck, and extremities, infertility in males and, occasionally, blindness due to corneal ulcerations. However, those who did survive enjoyed protective immunity from further infection.

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2011-04-20   |   763 visitas   |   Evalua este artículo 0 valoraciones

Vol. 4 Núm.5. Mayo 2010 Pags. 264-266. J Infect Developing Countries 2010; 4(5)