Poxes

Poxes

Smallpox was eradicated in 1979.
It is caused by infection with variola virus.
The virus is brick-shaped and has a hairpin loop at each end.

There are other poxes, too!

Monkeypox is an exotic virus.
It actually infects rodents more often than primates.
But mousepox doesn’t sound as exciting.

Chickenpox is airborn, and highly contagious.
Enemies of this pox include rest and oatmeal baths.
It’s the wimpiest of the poxes.

Cowpox beat smallpox in the boxing ring.
Mostly it hurt dairy maids who touched dirty udders.
Vaccination evolved and now we’re all safe.