What are the signs and symptoms of smallpox?
Infection with the variola virus begins with an incubation period that can be from 7-17 days (on average 12-14 days). During this time most people experience no symptoms whatsoever and they are not contagious. The first sign of smallpox disease is the prodromal phase, which lasts 2-4 days and is characterised by: • Fever (>40degC) • Malaise • Severe headache • Nausea and vomiting • Aching body • Sore throat • Possibly contagious during this phase Characteristic rash appears after the prodromal phase and goes through several stages, lasting for up to 20 days or longer. The most contagious stage is the early rash, which lasts for about 4 days. Characteristics of this stage include: • Small red spots occur on the tongue and in the mouth which turn into sores containing the virus • Rash spreads to face, arms, legs, hands and feet and to all parts of the body within 24 hours (coincides with subsiding fever) • Rash becomes raised bumps that then become fluid-filled with a depression in the c
