A highly contagious disease caused by a type of poxvirus; symptoms usually
include fever, severe back pain and a blistery-like rash. [Smallpox is
transmitted from person to person by infected
aerosols and air droplets.]
Smallpox is one of the most devastating diseases known to humanity. For
centuries, repeated epidemics swept across
continents, decimating populations and changing the course of history but in
1980 the world has been declared free of smallpox thanks to consequent
vaccination programs.
