World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is investigating reports of a potential smallpox outbreak in Uganda but says the cases likely involve chickenpox instead.
"It appears that the supposed cases of smallpox are actually cases of chickenpox, and that they have occurred over the past three weeks — this is not an acute event," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl told Reuters on March 25.
The two can be difficult to tell apart based on initial symptoms, but their impacts differ greatly.
Chickenpox is highly contagious among children, but the ailment is rarely fatal. Smallpox, however, can be devastating. Approximately 30 percent of those infected die of the illness.
After centuries of epidemic outbreaks, smallpox was officially declared eradicated in 1979. It’s been 33 years since the last known outbreak, which occurred in Somalia.
Fears that the disease might resurface in Uganda were first stoked last month. Four children living in Ugandan refugee camps showed worrisome symptoms, and were quickly hospitalized.
WHO officials now think the cases were coincidental and unlinked.
It’s not the first time the agency has investigated unfounded worries over smallpox outbreaks.
"In the past, these cases have always turned out not to be smallpox and were, usually, either chickenpox or monkeypox cases," Hartl said.
Because smallpox is so acutely contagious, a few infections can quickly turn to thousands. The illness, which causes a full-body rash and painful blistering, killed an estimated 300 million to 500 million people in the 20th century.
Chickenpox, by comparison, produces itchy, superficial lesions and usually clears up within a week.
