Smallpox is a contagious disease caused by a virus. Smallpox virus
has been eradicated worldwide through successful vaccination and
treatment programs, and now exists only as a stored virus in a few
research centers. Symptoms include a severe rash (which leaves
scars), fever, headache, vomiting and diarrhea.
Review Date: 06/23/2011
Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard
Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious
Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital.
Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M.,
Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
