Smallpox - Important points for medical exams

Correct answer to the question asked in Video : Control vs Elimination vs Eradication

 

Small Pox vaccine is made from?

    a. Small pox virus

    b. Vaccinia virus

    c. Polio virus

    d. Chickenpox virus

 

Correct Answer: B : Vaccinia Virus

Explanation: Read following points on smallpox and view this video completely. 

 

 

  • What is Small Pox : An acute contagious disfiguring and deadly disease caused by a virus.

  • Causative Organism : Variola Virus (member of the Orthopoxvirus family).

  • Smallpox is also known as "Variola".

  • Symptoms : Flu-like symptoms, rashes that appears first on face, hands, forearms and then on torso.

  • Symptoms begin 7-17 days after exposure and include fever, back pain, vomiting, malaise and headache.

  • Papules develop 2 days after symptoms develop and progress to pustular vesicles that are mainly on face and extremities initially.

  • Smallpox becomes infectious only after the fever develops.

  • Last known case of smallpox in India : 24th May, 1975 in Bihar

  • India Declared Smallpox free : April 1977

  • Last known case of smallpox in world : 26th October, 1977 in Somalia (Africa)

  • World Health Assembly declared smallpox eradicated on 8th May, 1980.

  • Mode of transmission : Person-to-person droplet infection through close contact, skin-to-skin contact, blood contact with infected person having symptoms,

  • Smallpox Eradication Programme (SEP) : 1966 to 1980.

  • Smallpox vaccine is used to provide immunity against smallpox.

  • The vaccine is made from "Live Vaccinia Virus" (NOT from Smallpox Virus). 

  • WHO had officially discontinue the use of small pox vaccine by 1982.

  • Edward Jenner : Invented first time the vaccination for smallpox.

  • Jenner observed that individuals who are exposed to cowpox would develop a minor skin lesion and then become immune to smallpox.

  • From this observation he developed a vaccine from cowpox lesion, which provides immunity to smallpox.

  • Smallpox is the only disease that has been eradicated globally as declared by WHO.

 

 

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