Smallpox once was one of the deadliest disease on the planet. The variola virus causes the disease which could both disfigure and kill people. While there still is no cure or treatment for smallpox, the disease was virtually eliminated from the world population through vaccination by 1980. Some samples of the disease were kept to use for research. The idea that it still exists, according to the Mayo Clinic, has some people worrying that it could be used as a biological weapon.
Incubation
There are virtually no symptoms of the pox virus upon initial infection. In the incubation time---up to 17 days---you may not realize you have the virus in your body. During this time, you are not contagious. It is only after incubation that symptoms start to occur. The infection can be variola major, which has a higher mortality rate, or variola minor which is less severe and rarely kills.
Onset
After incubating in your body, the pox virus will begin to exhibit symptoms similar to a cold or the flu. These symptoms may include vomiting, fever, diarrhea, bodily discomfort, severe pain in the back, headaches and fatigue that is severe. These symptoms will be mild compared to the next stage of the infection.
Rash
The next symptoms of the pox virus are what people tend to associate with smallpox. The rash that begins generally in the face has red flat lesions. In 24 to 48 hours, these will develop into fluid-filled blisters or vesicles. Eventually, this will turn to pustules. This rash will spread to the arms and hands before spreading around the body. It also may develop in mucous membranes in the mouth and nose.
Eruptions
The pustules eventually will erupt causing the skin to split between the layers. According to the Mayo Clinic, this is a very painful occurrence. Where the pustules erupt, scabs will form, then disengage from the skin approximately nine days afterward. The result will be deep scarring. Death may occur in the latter part of 14 days from onset, although some people did recover from the disease.
