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wikipedia.org
This remarkable, worldwide public health achievement isn't just a page in a history book or an entry in Wikipedia, it is highly pertinent today. Understanding the significance of this piece of history highlights the value of vaccines in present day.

Smallpox has been around for 3,000 years. It is an extremely contagious illness, impacting only human beings, eliminating 30% of those contaminated. It did not discriminate by age, wealth, gender or race. If you made it through, you had horrible scars and most likely be left blind. It is the only illness entirely eliminated by vaccines.
nih.gov
The variola infection, an orthopoxvirus which includes cowpox and monkeypox, was found on ancient Egyptian mummies and was first composed about in 4th century China. This very infectious disease spread worldwide. It was a global effort of numerous devoted specialists to eradicate it.

Smallpox signs were stated to be gruesome, and the pictures are. It begins with 4 days of sore throat, headaches, high fever, weak point, tiredness, neck and back pain, throwing up, abdominal discomfort and no hunger. Then a dreadful rash begins in the throat spreading out to the face and body. Big, deep round lesions and pustules cover the entire body for about 2 weeks. Complications consist of brain infection, bone infection, miscarriage, stillborn, infertility in males and loss of sight. Mozart and Abraham Lincoln both endured it.

The procedure of eradicating started long earlier. In ancient times, they practiced variolation by transferring material from smallpox sores to healthy individuals. These people had a milder case. In the 1500s, China made a powder of the scabs and blew it into the nostrils. In India in the 18th century, material from the pustules was moved to healthy individuals with needles. Similar practices are recorded in Europe, Turkey and Massachusetts.

In 1796, folklore said that milkmaids were unsusceptible to the infection. English Physician Edward Jenner observed that they all had cowpox formerly. He performed an experiment exposing an 8 year old kid to cowpox and found him to be immune to smallpox after this direct exposure. In some periods, those who were immune or endured were believed to be witches, sorcerers or influenced by wicked spirits.

The last naturally taking place case of smallpox occurred in 1977 in Somalia and the WHO stated it eradicated in 1980. The toll was more than 500 million with 300 million of those in the 20th century. A huge worldwide vaccination project with international participation continues to conserve billions of dollars by not needing to treat and vaccinate for this disease. More importantly, it shows that disease obliteration is possible.

The meeting of the recently appointed members of the Vaccine Advisory Committee is occurring today. The previous 17-member panel of specialists were entirely replaced with many without the same qualifications and experience. Other CDC vaccine scientists have either resigned or lost their positions. The American Academy of Pediatricians is publishing its own vaccine schedule since of concerns for the reliability of recommendations coming from the new panel.

Two labs, one in the U.S. and one in Russia hold the only staying samples of the infection. The destruction of these samples has been discussed for lots of years and encouraged by the WHO advisory committee to eliminate possible use as a biological weapon. There is no other requirement or usage of these samples. If utilized in biological warfare, it would not be the first time. Blankets and scarfs infected by smallpox were used as biological warfare by British officers to damage and kill Native Americans.

Vaccines are still readily available. Public Health companies have plans in place if required. Because of the possible hazard from the infection sitting in the labs, treatment for smallpox is being looked into and established. Return of this eradicated illness would by a criminal assault on all of humankind.

For almost 50 years there have been no recorded cases of one of the most feared illness that triggered disastrous suffering and eliminated households, villages and large populations for 3000 years. This is strong statement and an engaging narrative of facts for a closing argument to follow the scientific recommendations of vaccine specialists. Smallpox is among among many illness that humankind has endured, and it ought to remain a lesson discovered.

Look after yourself and somebody else.

Juanita Carnes is a nurse specialist with 39 years of experience in a hospital emergency department and immediate care facilities. She served 30 years on the Board of Health in Westfield, Massachusetts.

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