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Transcript
HISTORY OF SMALL POX 1 History of Small Pox Shelby Engel Concordia University HHP 181 Dr. Janousek September 27, 2011 HISTORY OF SMALL POX 2 History of Small Pox Small pox was believed to have originated, around 10,000 BC, in Africa and then spread throughout India from Egyptian merchants (Riedel, 2005). The first smallpox epidemic was recorded in 1350 BC. According to Brannon, smallpox was a significant disease in every country except for Australia and a few small isolated islands. Many people died in Europe and Mexico from the smallpox epidemic (2004). Some experts also say that smallpox has killed more people than many other infectious diseases combined (The New York Times, 2007). Smallpox was a disease that greatly affected the Western Civilization. Unknown to the world, this disease was brought by the Spanish and Portuguese conquistadors (Riedel, 2005, pg. 21). Smallpox greatly reduced the population. “In the 18Th century in Europe, 400,000 people died annually, and one third of the survivors went blind” (Riedel, 2005, pg. 21). The adult death rate ranged from 20% to 60%, and most of the survivors were left with disfigurations and scars. The infant death rate ranged from 80% to 98% in the late 1800s (Riedel, 2005, pg. 21). People commonly used the name “variola” to define smallpox. This word means “mark on the skin”. Survivors of smallpox then became immune to this disease. In 430 BC, some of the survivors of smallpox were often asked to help nurse the patients who currently had smallpox. Also during the medieval times, many doctors would use types of herbal remedies, cold treatments, and special cloths to help treat or even prevent smallpox. In 1624-1698, a doctor by the name of Dr. Sydenham believed he could cure is patients by leaving all of the windows opened all the time, having no fire in the room, having the bed sheets no higher than their waist, and giving them twelve small bottles of beer every twenty-four hours (Riedel, 2005, pg. 22). The most current outbreak occurred in Texas, in 1949, where there were eight cases and one death. At this time most of North America was free from smallpox, but there were several HISTORY OF SMALL POX 3 countries who still suffered from this epidemic. In 1972, the United States stopped giving vaccinations to the general population, but kept giving them to the military. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), people who received the vaccination have the same risk of getting smallpox as the people who haven’t had the vaccination (The New York Times, 2007). The last epidemic happened in Somalia during 1977 (Brannon, 2004). “On May 8, 1980, the World Health Assembly declared the world free of smallpox” (Brannon, 2004). Today there are concerns that smallpox could be reintroduced into the general population. Smallpox could be easily released in the form of aerosol because this specific virus is very stable in this form. Smallpox is highly contagious and can be spread easily from one person to another. During the first week it is the most dangerous. It can be spread through saliva and be contagious until the scabs fall off of the skin. This disease can also spread from clothing and bedding. With smallpox going back as early as 430 BC it is now easier for doctors to detect the symptoms. Some of the symptoms people may have are high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, backache, severe headache, or a raised rash that fills with pus and then become crusty after about eight or nine days (The New York Times, 2007). If a person receives the vaccination within one to four days of exposure, the can help prevent the sickness or at least help with the sickness. Treatment for smallpox is limited. There are several effects that can come with smallpox. People can get pneumonia, eye infections, brain inflammation, and as stated earlier many of these cases are fatal. There is also a rare chance for people to get encephalitis. The chance of getting this is one out of 300,000 people (The New York Times, 2007). The U.S. is prepared for if smallpox is to ever reappear. “According to the CDC, the United States has a supply of smallpox vaccine sufficient for the entire population at this time” (The New York Times, 2007). As also stated earlier, vaccinations are not being given HISTORY OF SMALL POX 4 to people of the general public. In 2003, there were no vaccines given to anyone other than military personal. Today there is still review of smallpox vaccinations, which includes both current and new vaccines (The New York Times, 2007). Summary Smallpox originated way back around 10,000 BC where it first entered into Africa and quickly spread through India and China. This disease was in almost every single country except for Australia and a few isolated islands (Riedel, 2005 pg.21). Today doctors have been able to notice the early signs and are able to detect early on. The United States hasn’t seen a case since 1949 and stopped giving vaccinations in 1972, but they are still prepared if smallpox ever comes back around (The New York Times, 2007). Reference List HISTORY OF SMALL POX Brannon, H. (September 25, 2004). The History of Small Pox: The rise and fall of a disease. In About.com, Dermatology. From http://dermatology.about.com/cs/smallpox/a/smallpoxhx.htm. McNeil, D. (2007, June 20). A multitude of vaccine benefits, yet controversy persists. The New York Times. Riedel, S. (2005). Edward Jenner and the history of smallpox and vaccination. PubMed Central, 18: 21-25. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1200696/ 5