Human Diseases

Text Sample:
Chapter 2: SMALLPOX:
By Sasmita Panda.
2.1. INTRODUCTION:
Smallpox is an extremely contagious and deadly viral disease caused by Variola virus for which there is no known cure. The last known case occurred in the United States in 1949 and due to worldwide vaccination programs, this disease has been completely eradicated. Smallpox is also known as variola. Since the time of ancient Egypt, smallpox has proven to be one of the most devastating diseases to humankind. Widespread smallpox epidemics and huge death tolls fill the pages of our history books. The first smallpox vaccine was created in 1758. However, the disease continued to infect and kill people on a widespread basis for another 200 years. The World Health Organization (WHO) implemented a strict vaccination standard in order to slow the infection rate. The last known natural case occurred in 1977 in Somalia. By 1980, the WHO declared that smallpox had been completely eradicated, although Government and health agencies still have stashes of smallpox virus for research purposes. People no longer receive routine smallpox vaccinations. The smallpox vaccine can have potentially fatal side effects, so only the people who are at high risk of exposure get the vaccine.
2.2. SYMPTOMS:
Historical accounts show that when someone was infected with the smallpox virus, they had no symptoms for between seven and 17 days. However, once the incubation period (or virus development phase) was over, the following flu-like symptoms occurred:
High fever.
Chills.
Headache.
Severe back pain.
Abdominal pain.
Vomiting.
These symptoms would go away within two to three days. Then the patient would feel better. However, just as the patient started to feel better, a rash would appear. The rash started on the face and then spread to the hands, forearms, and the main part of the body. The person would be highly contagious until the rash disappeared.
Within two days of appearance, the rash would develop into

Sasmita Panda was born in 1982 and graduated in 2002 from Godavaris Mahavidyalaya, Banpur at Utkal University, Odisha. She completed her P.G. in Zoology in 2004 and her M. Phil. in 2013 from Khallikote College at Berhampur University. She has been teaching Zoology at different U.G. Colleges since 2006. Now serving as lecturer in zoology at Jatni College, Panda has published several articles in research journals of national and international repute. She has also co-authored books like "Employment Through Aquaculture", "Biology of Wild Animals", "Wild Animals of India" and "Earning Animals", meant for students of undergraduate and post-graduate level. Additionally, she edited a book entitled "Water for Survival".

Dr. S.N. Padhi, born in 1953, obtained his B.Sc. degree in 1973, his P.G. in 1975 and his Ph.D. in 1981 at Berhampur University. He devoted his time in teaching and research in different Govt. and Non-Govt. Colleges of Odisha since 1978. He has completed different research projects and published numerous research articles as well as edited many souvenirs of State level and National-level seminars funded by U.G.C., OBA and other Agencies. He is a recipient of the Prof. Amulya Kumar Panda Royal Teacher Award 2011 instituted by the Royal College of Science and Technology, Bhubaneswar. Furthermore, he edited a book on "Application Of Biology for Self employment" and co-authored a book on Fishery entitled "Employment Through Aquaculture", as well as "Biology of Wild Animals", "Wild Animals of India" and "Earning Animals", meant for students of undergraduate and post-graduate level. He has also edited a book entitled "Water for Survival". He is a recipient of the Emeritus fellowship by the University Grants Commission.