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Name

Professor

Course

Date

The infectious outbreak of smallpox

I have focused my discussion on the outburst of the lethal smallpox virus because it was the first
disease in which efficacious vaccination was invented and highlighted the importance of
immunization. Blatantly, if not for the development of the smallpox vaccine, how many people
would have died or been flawed in from this deadly virus? This is significant being that the research
has proven that smallpox has killed more people than all other infectious diseases throughout
history [USN17]. It is transmitted through impartially prolonged direct contact with an infected
person, and the symptoms begin a week or two after infection where the victim will show signs of
fever, headache, severe back pain, and severe lethargy. Red spots start to appear on the face and
trunk of the body, which finally turn into puss filled swellings a few days after infection. Scars
usually occur from the spots where the lacerations developed, leaving survivors of the epidemic
disfigured and, at times, even blind. There is no cure for the smallpox virus, where the treatment
is entirely focused on relieving the signs and symptoms [MFM17]. Modern science and
immunization have come a long way all over the history fighting the disease, developing vaccines,
and medications to curb outbreaks. However, still, it is a big question whether the disease can be
eradicated because it keeps on coming back and killing people. The speed for the spread of
smallpox transmission is generally slower than diseases as measles or chickenpox. It once affected
me psychologically eight years ago when my younger brother fell its victim. Our interactions were
significantly affected, and he was alienated from me. This is because smallpox primarily spreads
to household members and friends before it is realized. Luckily enough, he was rushed to the
hospital for treatment before it was too late, and if we had not known in time, I could also be its
victim. The worst moment I experienced in life with this disease was watching my brother being
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secluded from us. Fortunately, he survived the illness and came back home though it had affected
me so much psychologically. The lucky thing about my brother.

References:

U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2017, September 13). Smallpox. Retrieved October 2, 2017,
from
MedLine Plus: https://medlineplus.gov/smallpox.html

MFMER. (2017, July 26). Mayoclinic. Retrieved October 2, 2017, from Smallpox:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/smallpox/home/ovc-20342407