Is smallpox a virus or bacteria?

Variola (the virus that causes smallpox) is a member of the orthopoxvirus genus, which also includes viruses that cause cowpox, monkeypox, orf, and molluscum contagiosum. Poxviruses are the largest animal viruses, visible with a light microscope. They are larger than some bacteria and contain double-stranded DNA. read more

Smallpox was an infectious disease caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names variola or variola vera, derived from varius ("spotted") or varus ("pimple"). read more

For centuries, epidemics of smallpox — an infection caused by the variola virus — affected people all over the globe, and the disease was often serious. But in 1796, British doctor Edward Jenner discovered a way to protect people from getting smallpox, which led to the development of the first smallpox vaccine. read more

A virus will not get into a fight with a bacteria, to the opposite, it will welcome the bacteria to join the cell party of an infection, it is then called an over infection. If a nearby fungus is interested, it will also join the other bad guys. read more

Because the person was infected with variola virus, a severe infection could result, and the person could transmit smallpox to others. Variolation had a 0.5–2 percent mortality rate, considerably less than the 20–30 percent mortality rate of the disease. read more

This infectious. Disease was declared eradicated in 1979 by the world health organization. read more

Smallpox is neither a virus nor a bacteria. This is the disease caused by Variola virus. read more