Alastrim (Noun)
Meaning
A mild form of smallpox caused by a less virulent form of the virus.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- Alastrim was isolated in various countries in South America and Africa, often following regional outbreaks of smallpox.
- The presence of alastrim poses challenges for global smallpox eradication efforts due to the mild and often asymptomatic cases.
- Some scientists believe alastrim and smallpox share an evolutionary ancestor but diverged significantly over time.
- In many cases, individuals infected with alastrim were often unaware they had contracted a form of smallpox at all.
- Before worldwide vaccination campaigns alastrim co-circulated in certain areas with classic smallpox.
Synonyms
- Pseudovariola
- Milk Pox
- White Pox
- Kaffir Pox
- Variola Minor
- Cuban Itch
- West Indian Smallpox
- Pseudosmallpox