Presenting our Smallpox GIANTmicrobe plush, showcasing the infamous Variola Virus! This adorable rendition of a lethal disease serves as an engaging educational tool for learners of all ages, offering insights into science, history, and humanity's capacity to overcome significant challenges.
Educational Insight: Delve into the captivating narrative of smallpox, a disease caused by the variola virus, which has left an indelible mark on human history. From ancient civilizations like Egypt and Greece to the Americas, smallpox has claimed countless lives over centuries. Its introduction to the New World by European explorers led to devastating consequences for Native American populations, altering the course of history.
Viral Invasion: Variola is among the largest and most complex viruses known to science. It invades human cells, commandeering their machinery to replicate thousands of viral copies until the cell bursts, releasing the virus to infect neighboring cells. The disease manifests with high fever, distinctive red pus-filled blisters, and painful sores, spreading rapidly through respiratory droplets or contact with contaminated surfaces.
Eradication Achievement: Despite its historical devastation, modern medicine achieved a remarkable feat by eradicating smallpox. Through a global campaign of vaccinations and surveillance, the World Health Organization declared smallpox eradicated in 1980. Today, the virus exists only in secure laboratory settings for research purposes, marking a triumph of human ingenuity and collaboration.
Key Characteristics:
- Name: Variola, derived from Latin roots meaning "spotted," aptly describes the raised bumps characteristic of the disease.
- Actual Size: Tiny yet lethal, the variola virus measures 200-400 nanometers.
- Transmission and Symptoms: Spread through respiratory droplets or contact with contaminated materials, smallpox causes high fever, rash, and eventually, oozing sores across the body.
- Treatment and Prevention: The development of a smallpox vaccine by Edward Jenner revolutionized disease prevention, saving countless lives and paving the way for modern immunization practices.
Fascinating Trivia: The impact of smallpox on history is evident in its portrayal across various cultures, with many religions featuring deities associated with the disease. The smallpox vaccine, derived from cowpox, marked a groundbreaking advancement in medicine and remains a testament to human resilience in the face of adversity.
Materials: Crafted from all-new materials and filled with soft polyester fiber, our Smallpox GIANTmicrobe plush is surface washable for easy cleaning. Each plush comes with an informative printed card detailing facts about the actual virus.
Safety: Compliant with U.S. and European safety standards, our products are suitable for ages 3 and up.
Sizes:
GIANTmicrobes are meticulously crafted to be one million times larger than the actual microbes, cells, organisms, and critters they represent!
- Gigantic (GG): 16-24"
- XL (XL): 10-15"
- Original (PD): 5-8"
- Keychain (KC): 2-4" with clip
Bring home the Smallpox GIANTmicrobe plush today and embark on an enlightening journey through history, science, and human resilience!