What is the treatment of smallpox

Smallpox can be prevented through use of the smallpox vaccine, even if the vaccine is given within three days after exposure to smallpox. There is no proven treatment for smallpox, but research to evaluate new antiviral agents is ongoing. Preliminary results with the drug, cidofovir suggest it may be useful. (The use of cidofovir to treat smallpox or smallpox vaccine reactions should be evaluated and monitored by experts at NIH and CDC.) Patients with smallpox can benefit from supportive therapy (e. g., intravenous fluids, medicine to control fever or pain) and antibiotics for any secondary bacterial infections that may occur.