Small+Pox

**What is it? How is it spread?**

 * Contagious virus with two variants //- Variola major// and //Variola mino//
 * Spread easily from person to person through saliva droplets
 * Most contagious within the first weeks of infection,but can be contagious until scans fall off
 * Can be spread through infected blankets and clothing
 * Can live on clothing, blankets and in dust for up to a year
 * Native American medical practices - sweat lodges and cold water baths made the disease worse by spreading the sores and weakening the immune system

**What are the Symptoms?**

 * 12 day incubation period between the time the disease is contracted and symptoms begin to show
 * Initial symptoms are similar to the flu - lasts 2-4 days
 * fever
 * muscle pain
 * headache
 * nausea
 * vomiting
 * backache


 * Day 12-15 - First visible lesions
 * small reddish spots appear in the mouth, on the tongue, and down the throat
 * body temperature falls below normal
 * lesions enlarge and rupture - virus now in saliva

>
 * 24 to 48 hours after lesions appear
 * skin rash develops
 * begins on the forehead and quickly spread across whole face and body
 * takes no mare 24 to 36 hours
 * From this point there are several different variations of the disease, which are classified based on size on shape of the lesions


 * Historically, the death rate is about 30%

**What does Smallpox look like?**


Citations:

 Native American Beliefs and Medical Treatment.

 PubMed Health. 