Smallpox and Anthrax

Smallpox is a very serious infectious virus. It has about a 30% fatality rate. There is no treatment other than a vaccine that wears off in approximately 5 years. There are two types that have effects on humans. Variola Major and Variola Minor. Variola Major is more common and more lethal. Smallpox has been eradicated except in two labs; one in Russia and one in the United States. Smallpox comes from a variola virus that emerged in …

…most often in 3rd world countries. One can avoid anthrax by not eating meat or going near animals in developing countries or by getting a vaccine. An anthrax vaccine is 93% effective in humans. Humans should not use vaccines that are intended for animals. Anthrax can be fatal if untreated, but if it is not treated early, it will probably be too late for the antibiotics to do anything. Source: Center for Disease Control (CDC) website.