The Variola Virus The Variola virus, which exists in two strains, Variola Minor and Variola Major, has been the cause of one of humanity’s most devastating diseases -- smallpox. This disease is around 200-400 nanometers small and is oval or brick-shaped. The Variola virus, and including all other viruses, are not considered alive. They reproduce by coming in contact with a host cell (for the Variola strains, human animal cells) and injecting their DNA into the host to take its functions over. This commands the cell to construct new viruses. Once the new viruses mature, they break out of the cell and leave the infected cell dying. Only the infected host cell actually does all the work, the virus only injects its genetic material into its host
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One strain, Variola major, is the most common and severe form of smallpox than Variola minor, which also causes smallpox. The Variola major strain has a 30-40% death rate and creates life-threatening symptoms. Variola minor, on the other hand, is a less common and mild strain of the virus, and has less than a 1% death rate. No viral disease can be completely “cured”. There are antiviral drugs that can relieve the symptoms of viral diseases. For smallpox, Cidoforvir is a drug that can help make symptoms less severe from smallpox when given within 2 days of exposure. A vaccine has been discovered to prevent smallpox to around 95% of the vaccinated people and provides 3-5 years of immunity. A global immunization campaign has successfully eradicated the disease, which is confirmed by the World Health Organization in 1980. Because of the eradication of smallpox, the vaccine is not given regularly except to smallpox response teams, which are specially trained people that help contain the virus if it is ever used in a bio-terror attack (The last known remnants of the virus are located in 2 labs around the world to be used for research purposes). The USA has a secured stockpile of the vaccine to inoculate every human being in the USA if such an event ever occurs
One strain, Variola major, is the most common and severe form of smallpox than Variola minor, which also causes smallpox. The Variola major strain has a 30-40% death rate and creates life-threatening symptoms. Variola minor, on the other hand, is a less common and mild strain of the virus, and has less than a 1% death rate. No viral disease can be completely “cured”. There are antiviral drugs that can relieve the symptoms of viral diseases. For smallpox, Cidoforvir is a drug that can help make symptoms less severe from smallpox when given within 2 days of exposure. A vaccine has been discovered to prevent smallpox to around 95% of the vaccinated people and provides 3-5 years of immunity. A global immunization campaign has successfully eradicated the disease, which is confirmed by the World Health Organization in 1980. Because of the eradication of smallpox, the vaccine is not given regularly except to smallpox response teams, which are specially trained people that help contain the virus if it is ever used in a bio-terror attack (The last known remnants of the virus are located in 2 labs around the world to be used for research purposes). The USA has a secured stockpile of the vaccine to inoculate every human being in the USA if such an event ever occurs