Poxviruses

Poxviruses: what are they and how do they affect the body?

Poxviruses (poxviridae) are a family of viruses that cause acute infectious diseases in humans and animals. The name poxviruses comes from the English word pox, meaning smallpox, and the word viruses. Viruses in this family are large in size and have a complex structure, which distinguishes them from other viruses.

Poxviruses can cause various diseases in humans, such as smallpox, boogers, varicella-zoster and others. Symptoms of illness caused by poxviruses include skin rashes, fever, headache, and other symptoms.

One of the best known diseases caused by poxviruses is smallpox. It was known in ancient times and caused massive epidemics, leading to a large number of deaths. With the advent of the smallpox vaccine in the mid-20th century, the number of cases decreased significantly.

However, not all diseases caused by poxviruses have vaccines or effective treatments. For example, varicella zoster, which causes chickenpox and shingles, can cause complications in people with weakened immune systems, such as the elderly and the sick.

In addition, poxviruses are used for medical purposes. For example, they are used as vectors to deliver gene therapy into the body's cells.

Thus, poxviruses are viruses that can cause various diseases in humans and animals. Some of these diseases have vaccines or effective treatments, but others still remain without them. In addition, poxviruses can be used for medical purposes, making them important subjects of research in medicine and science.