Smallpox is a very contiguous disease that caused thousands to die before the vaccine was discovered. It causes small bumps to appear all over the skin which may cause scarring. The disease mainly affected children but that does not mean adults did not catch the virus. The disease is caused by the Variola virus which comes in two forms, major and minor. It is one of many orthopox diseases. A vaccine was discovered in the1960's which led to the eradication of the disease. Though the disease is eradicated, there is a fear the it could be used for bio-terrorism.
