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Professor

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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 highlights 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. It is transmitted through impartially long 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 begin to appear on the face and trunk of the body
which finally turn into puss filled swellings a few days after infection. Scars normally 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. Modern science and immunization have come a long way all
over the history fighting the disease, developing vaccines and medications to curb outbreaks but
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 8 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 secluded from us. Fortunately, he survived the disease and came
back home though it had affected me so much psychologically. The lucky thing about my brother
Surname: 1