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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to face a microscopic enemy so deadly that it drives humanity to unite against it globally? Imagine a terror that has haunted us for millennia, leaving behind a trail of devastation and despair. This is the narrative of the variola virus, the causative agent of smallpox—a tale that spans centuries and culminates in one of humanity's greatest victories over an ancient adversary.
Why has variola been so lethal throughout history, and why has its horror faded so quickly from our collective memory? For thousands of years, this virus has menaced humanity, leaving death and destruction in its wake. Yet, in 2023, only two laboratories exist where the virus is officially stored for research, one in Koltsovo, Russia, and the other in Atlanta, USA. What could possibly go wrong? Let's delve into the mechanics of this silent killer.
Variola is a master of deceit, using your own immune cells to spread its reign of terror. It infiltrates the cells lining your throat, causing chaos and luring your immune cells to the site of infection. But this is where the virus flips the script, infecting your immune system's sentinels and exploiting the body's defenses to its advantage.
For 12 days, the virus operates covertly, infecting more and more cells until it reaches a critical threshold. Then, it launches a full-scale assault, spilling into your bloodstream and organs, infecting your entire body. As your immune system struggles to wake up, variola deactivates interferons, leaving you defenseless against its onslaught.
The virus spreads relentlessly, targeting even the smallest blood vessels in your body. As your cells die, a brutal war unfolds within you. Neutrophils, usually efficient killers, prove ineffective against smallpox, and their attempts to combat the virus only result in further cellular destruction. The body swells with lesions, filled with billions of variola viruses, as the critical phase begins.
You fight for survival, your body burning with fever as battlegrounds drain your blood of fluid. Blood clotting occurs throughout your body, and toxins from dead cells accumulate, threatening organ failure. Your lungs fill with fluid, making each breath a battle. In the end, one of two outcomes awaits: victory over the infection or a tragic demise.
How did we go from this nightmare to a world where smallpox is but a distant memory? The answer lies in vaccines—a revolutionary concept born from the desperate need to protect against this monster. Through variolation and the subsequent discovery of vaccination using cowpox, humanity began to turn the tide against variola.
In 1966, the World Health Organization initiated a final, major effort to eradicate smallpox. A global network was established, and through encirclement, vaccination, and prevention, the transmission chain was broken. The last naturally occurring infection was in 1977, and in 1980, smallpox was declared eradicated.
It is hard to convey the magnitude of this triumph to those who have never known the specter of smallpox. Yet, we must remember, for the light of our victory is not guaranteed to shine forever. As we live in a time of enlightenment, we must remain vigilant, for diseases may reawaken, or new ones may be brewing, ready to strike us once more.
We must cherish vaccines as the incredible gift they are and ensure that the light of our victory does not fade. We killed one monster, and we can do it again. The story of smallpox is a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of humanity—a reminder that we can overcome even the darkest of terrors.
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