Last Known Case of Naturally-Occurring Smallpox, 1975, 1 of 2
2 year old female child by the name of Rahima Banu, who was actually the last known case of naturally-occurring of smallpox, or variola major in the world. Her case was reported to public health smallpox eradication team authorities by an 8 year old girl named Bilkisunnessa, who was paid her 250 Taka reward for her diligence. The case occurred in the Bangladesh district of Barisal, in a village named Kuralia, on Bhola Island. The case occurred on October 16, 1975. Note the distribution of the pustules, for their greatest density was found on her face and extremities, which is characteristic of the smallpox maculopapular rash. After the initial rash manifests, the bumps become sharply raised pustules, usually round and firm to the touch, as if there's a small round object under the skin. People often say the bumps feel like BB pellets embedded in the skin. The pustules begin to form a crust, and then scab over. By the end of the second week after the rash appears, most of the sores have scabbed over. The scabs begin to fall off, which leaves marks on the skin that eventually will become pitted scars. Most scabs will have fallen off three weeks after the rash appears. The person is contagious to others until all of the scabs have fallen off then is no longer contagious. The younger the survivor, the greater the chance that after the scabs have fallen off there will be reduced scarring or pitting of the skin.
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