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The variola virus belongs to the Orhtopox virus family. It in includes Variola(smallpox), Monkeypox, Cowpox, Horsepox, Vaccinia, and a few others.

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There is no definitive proof as to when precisely the variola virus spawned. It is believed to have been present dating back 3,000-4,000 years ago. Excavated mummies from the 18th and 20th dynasties presented with skin covered in lesions that bear a resemblance to the smallpox virus. Written reports of the virus come from 4th century China and 7th century India.

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The Variola Virus is what causes Smallpox. Smallpox is able to be contracted in various ways. For example, direct contact from an already infected person's bodily fluids such as a cough, sneeze, or even their saliva from talking. Indirect contamination from various inanimate objects like clothing and bedding is also possible. The variola virus is also transmissible via the air. Because the virus was so easily transmitted it spread rapidly throughout the world.

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As of 1980 the smallpox virus has been deemed eradicated by the World Health Assembly. This means currently no one is at risk for naturally contracting the virus. There is evidence leading to the belief that it was contracted around the world including Africa, Asia, India, and Europe to name a few. The smallpox pandemic affected people of all ages, races, genders, and socioeconomic classes. No one was omissible. Prior statistics showed that about 3 out of every 10 people who contracted the virus perished.

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Today people are not vaccinated against the variola virus due to its eradication. However, 2 FDA approved vaccines for the prevention of the virus do exist. Live vaccinations were used in the US until 1972. There was never an antidote to reverse or stop the virus once it had been contracted. The vaccine could be administered after infection with the virus, but it only would subside symptoms not cause cessation of them. In 1796, Edward Jenner was credited with discovering that inoculating a person with some of the material (usually pus) from cowpox lesions would lead to immunity against contracting the variola virus.  He proved this theory by taking the pus from a milkmaidens active cowpox infection and injecting it below the skin of the maiden's gardener's young boy child. After several months he exposed the child to the Variola Virus repeatedly, but the child never contracted smallpox. The antibodies that are produced from the Variola Vaccine also protect one against other orthopoxviruses such as monkeypox, cowpox, and horsepox.

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Aside from vaccine administration to lessen symptoms after exposure the treatment for those infected with the virus was mostly palliative. Fluid therapy and wound care were implemented to provide comfort to the afflicted. Dehydration was common from the fever and vomiting. The rash itself painful. Before the vaccination not much was able to be done to care for those stricken by smallpox. Those who survived infection were left with permanent pocked/ cratered scars. Infertility and blindness were also common following infection. Lifelong immunity to the virus was gained.

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(copied excerpt about the book for reference)

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Walking around New York City was what Mitty Blake did best. He loved the city, and even after 9/11, he always felt safe. Mitty was a carefree guy–he didn’t worry about terrorists or blackouts or grades or anything, which is why he was late getting started on his Advanced Bio report.
Mitty does feel a little pressure to hand something in–if he doesn’t, he’ll be switched out of Advanced Bio, which would be unfortunate since Olivia’s in Advanced Bio. So he considers it good luck when he finds some old medical books in his family’s weekend house that focus on something he could write about. But when he discovers an old envelope with two scabs in one of the books, the report is no longer about the grade–it’s about life and death. His own.

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The incubation period for the variola virus was 1-2 weeks or 7-14 days. Infected persons were not yet contagious during this time and had no symptoms. The initial symptoms usually included elevated fever(101-104 degrees Fahrenheit), body aches with accompanying headaches, and the occasional nausea and vomiting. Within two days of initial symptoms a rash would appear consisting of red spots on the tongue and inside the mouth. The rash would then appear on the skin starting on the face and appearing in a descending pattern until it reached the soles of the feet. The sores would cover the entire surface of the body within 24 hours. By the 6th day the rash would transform into round, firm, pustules containing a thick opaque pus, which lasted about 10 days. The pustules eventually would burst, form a crust, and then scab over. The scabbing phase would last around 6 days. Infected individuals are contagious until the last scab falls off.  Once the scabs began to fall off pitted markings were left on the skin which lead to disfigurement.