WHAT SMALLPOX IS 
Smallpox is a highly Infectious disease caused 
by a tiny germ known as a virus. It is charac- 
ized by headache, fever, and a breaking out all 
over the body. About 12 days after the virus 
enters the body of an unprotected person, the 
first symptoms appear. 
HOW MUCH OF A DANGER IN THE U. S. ? 
In spite of the fact that medical science has 
long possessed a safe and effective means of pre- 
venting smallpox (vaccination) failure to take 
advantage of this sure protection results in sev- 
eral thousand cases of the disease in the United 
States each year. 
In States with laws requiring vaccination 
against smallpox as a condition for entering the 
schools, the disease has practically disappeared. 
In those States, which do not enforce such vac- 
cination regulations, smallpox continues to be 
more prevalent. 
The relative mildness of smallpox in the 
United States in recent years has encouraged an 
easing of the enforcement of vaccination require- 
ments. If this attitude continues smallpox will 
again become a serious problem in this country. 
Smallpox may strike at people of all ages, but 
is more often fatal to young children. It is most 
prevalent during the late winter months. 
HOW SMALLPOX SPREADS 
The virus that causes the disease lives in the 
skin eruption and in discharges from the nose 
and throat of a person suffering with smallpox. 
Since the virus lives but a short time outside the 
body, the disease is most often spread by direct 
personal contact with a recognized or unrecog- 
nized case. FACTS ABOUT VACCINATION 
Vaccination is a safe and simple procedure. 
A small amount of smallpox vaccine is pain- 
lessly introduced into the skin. In a few days, 
if the vaccination “takes,” the spot where the 
vaccine was placed becomes red and slightly 
swollen and a vaccination eruption develops. 
The vaccinated area should be kept clean and 
dry until the scab falls off—18 to 20 days. No 
dressing should be applied to the vaccination. 
The vaccine used by physicians is issued under 
license of the United States Public Health Serv- 
ice. This assures a high standard of purity. 
Experience indicates that vaccination prevents 
an attack of smallpox for five to ten years, and 
in some instances for much longer. 
WHEN TO VACCINATE 
Infants should be vaccinated before they are 
12 months of age. 
A second vaccination is recommended for 
children at the time they enter school. 
It is important, however, for all persons ex- 
posed to a known or suspected case of smallpox 
to be vaccinated immediately with fully potent 
vaccine. Only vaccine kept constantly below 
freezing until used can be trusted as fully potent. 
If an individual still retains protection from 
a previous vaccination, only a slight local reac- 
tion is likely to follow a revaccination. 
TREATMENT OF SMALLPOX 
There is no specific treatment for smallpox. 
Measures taken by the physician will be for the 
purpose of making the patient more comfortable 
and to protect him against possible complica- 
tions. 
THE ONE PREVENTIVE 
There is only one sure way to protect yourself 
against smallpox—vaccination. August 1947 
FEDERAL SECURITY AGENCY 
U. S. Public Health Service 
Health Education Series No. 27 
U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 16 52963-1 
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government 
Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C.—Price $1 per 100 copies