smallpox vius
|
–
Largest viruses
|
|
–
Brick shaped
|
|
Variola virus (VARV
|
caused by
|
|
(Variola major & Variola minor
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Two forms
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|
Human
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Host
|
|
is highly contagious
Inhaling droplets of saliva(full of virus),
Direct contact
conjunctiva or placenta.
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Transmission
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|
7-17 days
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Incubation period:
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flu-like illnesses)
High fever, fatigue, depression, headache, backache & rash
characteristic rash, most prominent on the face, arms, and
legs(2 to 3 days after the first symptoms)
. The rash starts with flat red lesions
(sores) that develop at the same rate. After a few days, the
lesions become filled with pus. They begin to crust early in the second week.
Scabs develop and then separate and fall
off after about three weeks.
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Symptoms
|
|
•
Routine
viral cultures.
•
Variola PCR
targets the hemagglutin gene.
•
Electron
Microscopy.
|
Diagnostic Tests
|
