What is the incubation period and symptoms of smallpox?
The incubation period is usually 12 days following contact, although the incubation range is 7 to 17 days. Initial symptoms include high fever, weakness, head and backache. A rash appears in 2-3 days on the mouth, face, arms, and legs. The rash starts with flat red lesions. Lesions become pus-filled after a few days and then scab early in the second week. Scabs then separate and fall off after 3-4 weeks. Approximately 70% of people that get smallpox recover while 30% of the cases are fatal.
