# data[].attributes.body
The variola virus is the virus that causes smallpox. Smallpox is caused by 1 of the 2 closely related strains of variola virus, variola major and variola minor.

# data[].attributes.body
Smallpox goes through many stages as the disease progresses.

◻︎Incubation Period

-Can last anywhere from 7 to 19 days and it's not contagious yet.
◻︎Early rash
-Last about 4 days and is contagious
-A red rash starts in the mouth and this rash turns into sores that open and spread the virus. Within 24 hours the rash/sores will appear all over the body.
◻︎Pustular Rash and Scabs
-Contagious and last about 10 days
-Sores form pustules and later become a scab.
These scabs fall off

# data[].attributes.body
Smallpox can be prevented by vaccination which is known as the vaccinia virus vaccine.

# data[].attributes.body
Variolation was one of the first methods used to control smallpox. With the method, the material from the sores is given to someone who has never had it by scratching the material into the arm or inhaling it. The people who did this usually showed symptoms of smallpox but fewer people died.

# data[].attributes.body
On May 8, 1980 the 33rd World Health Assembly declared the world was free of this disease because of vaccinations, but there has still been antiviral drugs made to treat it if smallpox ever reappeared naturally or as a weapon. These drugs include  tecovirimat (TPOXX), cidofovir, and brincidofovir.

# data[].attributes.body
Before its eradication, smallpox was severe and infectious disease that killed 3 out of every 10 people who contracted it. Many of those of survived have scars over large portions of their body's and some were left blind.

# data[].attributes.body
Smallpox can be transmitted to anyone but has to be transmitted through person to person contact and saliva droplets.

# data[].attributes.body
The basis of the smallpox vaccination began 1796 when Edward Jenner observed milkmaids who had gotten cowpox and did not show any symptoms of smallpox after variolation. He did an experiment with milkmaid Sarah Nelmes and James Phipps, a 9 year old boy. Jenner took material from a sore on Nelmes hand and inoculated it into Phipps’ arm. Jenner exposed Phipps to smallpox many times but he never contracted the disease. Vaccination became widely accepted.