Abstract
Smallpox is a highly infectious disease caused by the Variola virus. This report explores the taxonomic classification, “life cycle”, and mechanism of replication of this pathogen, as well as discusses the virulence and treatment options for an infected human host. This member of the Orthopoxvirus genus is extremely virulent, and has a fatality rate of nearly 30%. While this virus only attacks a human host, similar members of the Voxviridae family produce similar infections in animals. Transmission of the variola virus requires face-to-face contact via aerosol transmission, as the pathogen cannot survive for long in normal environmental conditions and does not exist in a carrier state. This virus enters a human host most commonly …show more content…
This pathogen is in the Orthopoxvirus genus, and is one of the largest animal viruses. There are many other similar viruses in this genus, some of which can also infect humans, but are less virulent. The Variola major virus is a parasite that attacks a specific type of host organism, namely human hosts, and cannot be transmitted through insects or animals. Transmission through aerosols in the environment is the most common, as this virus cannot survive in the environment for long. The easy method of transmission, along with the virus’s ability to evade the host’s immune system, makes for a deadly pathogen that caused global pandemic. The virus itself causes a slew of painful symptoms in human hosts, most notably The name Variola comes from the Latin roots “varius” or “varus”, meaning “stained” and “mark on the skin” respectively. These refer to the painful scabs that appear on the skin after the sores rupture, which are very similar to that of syphilis. This disease was commonly mistaken for syphilis during 15th century England, which was referred to as “the great pockes” (pocke meaning sac). To avoid confusion, the disease was given the name small pockes to differentiate, but was also called “the speckled monster”. (Riedel,
Smallpox is a highly infectious disease caused by the Variola virus. This report explores the taxonomic classification, “life cycle”, and mechanism of replication of this pathogen, as well as discusses the virulence and treatment options for an infected human host. This member of the Orthopoxvirus genus is extremely virulent, and has a fatality rate of nearly 30%. While this virus only attacks a human host, similar members of the Voxviridae family produce similar infections in animals. Transmission of the variola virus requires face-to-face contact via aerosol transmission, as the pathogen cannot survive for long in normal environmental conditions and does not exist in a carrier state. This virus enters a human host most commonly …show more content…
This pathogen is in the Orthopoxvirus genus, and is one of the largest animal viruses. There are many other similar viruses in this genus, some of which can also infect humans, but are less virulent. The Variola major virus is a parasite that attacks a specific type of host organism, namely human hosts, and cannot be transmitted through insects or animals. Transmission through aerosols in the environment is the most common, as this virus cannot survive in the environment for long. The easy method of transmission, along with the virus’s ability to evade the host’s immune system, makes for a deadly pathogen that caused global pandemic. The virus itself causes a slew of painful symptoms in human hosts, most notably The name Variola comes from the Latin roots “varius” or “varus”, meaning “stained” and “mark on the skin” respectively. These refer to the painful scabs that appear on the skin after the sores rupture, which are very similar to that of syphilis. This disease was commonly mistaken for syphilis during 15th century England, which was referred to as “the great pockes” (pocke meaning sac). To avoid confusion, the disease was given the name small pockes to differentiate, but was also called “the speckled monster”. (Riedel,