What would happen if smallpox was released?

What would happen if smallpox was released?

Smallpox returning could result in blindness, terrible disfigurement and death for millions or even billions.

Why is smallpox such a serious concern?

Smallpoxis a serious, life-threatening illness causes by variola virus. It causes pus-filled blisters (pustules) to develop on the skin. In 1980, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that smallpox had been eradicated (wiped out).. Since the late 1970s, there haven’t been any confirmed cases of smallpox.

What problems did smallpox cause?

However, a few rare varieties of smallpox are almost always fatal. These more-severe forms most commonly affect pregnant women and people with impaired immune systems. People who recover from smallpox usually have severe scars, especially on the face, arms and legs. In some cases, smallpox may cause blindness.

How did smallpox affect the human body?

Smallpox can cause a severe rash over the whole body that can leave scars. Other symptoms include high fever and severe headache or body aches. Death occurs in about 30 percent of infected people. Some survivors may suffer blindness.

Why is there a concern that smallpox could be used as an agent of bioterrorism?

No one has gotten smallpox naturally since 1977. However, it is possible that variola virus (the virus that causes smallpox) could be used in a biological attack (an intentional release of viruses, bacteria, or other germs that can sicken or kill people, livestock, or crops).

What does smallpox do to the immune system?

Summary: Scientists describe how they looked at all of the proteins produced by the smallpox virus in concert with human proteins, and discovered one particular interaction that disables one of the body’s first responders to injury — inflammation.

Is smallpox still a problem?

The last naturally occurring case of smallpox was reported in 1977. In 1980, the World Health Organization declared that smallpox had been eradicated. Currently, there is no evidence of naturally occurring smallpox transmission anywhere in the world.

How does smallpox cause death?

Circulating immune complexes, overwhelming viremia, or an uncontrolled immune response may be contributing factors. In early hemorrhagic smallpox, death occurs suddenly about six days after the fever develops. The cause of death in early hemorrhagic cases is commonly due to heart failure and pulmonary edema.

How does smallpox affect the cells?

Once the Variola virus is inhaled it lands on and infects the cells that cover the mouth, throat and respiratory tract. All viruses must infect a cell to reproduce. Macrophages infected by the Variola virus then take the virus to the lymph nodes in the head and neck.

Why was smallpox easily eradicated?

Several biological reasons favored the eradication of smallpox, the most important of which were probably that recurrent infectivity did not occur, that there was no animal reservoir, and that an effective stable vaccine was available.

Who is most likely to be affected by smallpox?

Susceptibility and resistance to smallpox (variola) Pregnant women and people who are immunocompromised are more susceptible to variant forms of smallpox. It is unclear how long the smallpox vaccine provides effective immunity, but it is unlikely to be more than 10 years.