The first human case of smallpox infection in 20 years has been reported in the United States.
The virus is believed to have been transmitted from a monkey. The diagnosis was confirmed in a US citizen who returned from Nigeria. Epidemiologists believe that such isolated cases could trigger a pandemic.
The fact is that humanity abandoned mass vaccination against smallpox forty years ago and is now deprived of collective immunity against the disease, MIA Rossiya Segodnya.
After infection, the disease proceeds covertly, and then an exacerbation occurs, which ends with either recovery or death of the patient.
The body of the infected person is covered with purulent ulcers, leaving scars after recovery.
China was the first to combat smallpox by blowing powder of dried smallpox crusts into the noses of children.
The procedure led to the death of 2% of children, but in other cases lifelong immunity was developed.
At the turn of the 19th century, English physician Edward Jenner introduced the first vaccine.
Today, smallpox is called a defeated virus, and the threat of a new epidemic or pandemic is not remembered.
At the same time, isolated cases of the disease periodically arise in the world, which worries specialists.
Scientists do not rule out mutation of the virus, which will make it more dangerous.
