TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 322. Smallpox A1 - Gershon, Anne A. A2 - Rudolph, Colin D. A2 - Rudolph, Abraham M. A2 - Lister, George E. A2 - First, Lewis R. A2 - Gershon, Anne A. PY - 2011 T2 - Rudolph's Pediatrics, 22e AB - The world’s last case of smallpox, which was due to infection with variola major virus, occurred in 1978. This disease is ancient and played many roles in the course of history. For example, many members of various royal families, including Louis XV of France, died of this illness. The global elimination of smallpox by vaccination remains a major historical and medical milestone. Routine vaccination against smallpox was discontinued in the United States in 1972.1-4 There was a brief resurrection of use of vaccine in the United States during the early 2000s when there was fear that the virus might be used as an agent of bioterrorism.5,6 The smallpox vaccine contains live vaccinia virus, which confers protection against infection from variola virus, the cause of smallpox. Vaccinia virus can be transmitted from a vaccine recipient to other persons through direct (skin-to-skin) contact via material from the unhealed vaccination site or through indirect contact by means of fomites. This can result in eczema vaccinatum, a life-threatening complication of vaccinia virus infection (eFig. 322.1) no longer seen since use of the vaccine was discontinued. This brief chapter is included in this textbook to mark the momentous medical event of disease elimination and to remind medical personnel of the disease that once existed and, it is hoped, will remain forever gone. SN - PB - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/19 UR - accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=7030780 ER -