Smallpox is a contagious and often fatal disease for which there is no cure; it is caused by the variola virus. There is no form of smallpox treatment other than a smallpox vaccine. Only certain people in certain occupations still get vaccinated for smallpox, since the disease was wiped out in 1977 through a worldwide program launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1967. Still, some virus samples do exist in government facilities for research purposes. In the event of an outbreak, smallpox treatment would only consist of the smallpox vaccine.
As the only thing close to smallpox treatment, the vaccine itself has limitations. A vaccination has a better chance of working if a person receives it prior to infection or before symptoms appear. In addition, as a live-virus vaccine, it comes with its share of complications. For example, the vaccine contains the vaccinia virus, which has the potential to spread to different areas of the body, as well as to other people.
The vaccinia virus can cause a variety of side effects including aches of the body and head, brain inflammation and fever. Rash, scars and sores can also occur. In some people, the vaccination can prove fatal. Aside from a vaccination, there is no other specific smallpox treatment, although antibiotics might aid in relieving other bacterial infections that can occur as a result of the disease.
There is no need to vaccinate the general public for smallpox anymore because of the successful eradication of the disease. In addition, the risks associated with the vaccine are too great to unnecessarily inoculate so many people. For those who did receive the vaccination prior to the smallpox eradication, it is not known if the vaccination will still protect against the disease. If an outbreak occurs, these people will still need a vaccination.
Even though the vaccine is no longer available to the general public, it is still necessary for some health and military personnel. Within this group of people, though, there are some who are not suitable to receive the vaccine. These people include those with AIDs or HIV, those who have certain skin conditions and women who are pregnant.
Although smallpox is no longer an immediate problem, it is still a threat to the world. The potential for an outbreak, whether through an accidental release or as a biological weapon, is very real. Any new case of smallpox might become an international scare, since the rate of death used to be around 30 percent of all people who received the infection.
