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URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/19059.htm
Smallpox lesions
Overview
Smallpox is a contagious disease caused by a virus. Smallpox virus has been eradicated worldwide through successful vaccination and treatment programs, and now exists only as a stored virus in a few research centers. Symptoms include a severe rash that leaves scars, fever, headache, vomiting and diarrhea.
Review Date 4/1/2025
Updated by: Elika Hoss, MD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.