Is it possible someone could be never sick with smallpox?

Question

I am 21 years old and I have never been sick with smallpox or none of these diseases that can be prevented with vaccines in fact I have been in contact with people that have this viruses and nothing happens to me. My cousin (29 years old) either has never been sick. Is this normal? and if so, why?

Answer 1

Fatima----you must have a real good immune system like I do---I am a Nurse and around sick people all the time----and never catch anything----------but I do eat a healthy diet----don't smoke or drink------stay at ideal weight and exercise.----these things all increase your resistance.-Good Luck

Answer 2

Smallpox is a virus that has killed millions in the past. The world eliminated smallpox from the world with a coordinated vaccination program in the 60's and 70's and no "wild" case have been seen since.

The US and USSR both kept samples of the virus for study and rumors are that the USSR weaponized smallpox, IE made it even worse.

I don't know what you mean when you say your cousin has never been sick. When someone gets a vaccine there is a chance it won't work and they will get some symptoms or the actual sickness.

To answer your question, anyone could get sick, if exposed, but no one has gotten sick from smallpox (that I've heard about) in decades.

I hope this helps.

Answer 3

I seriously doubt you have ever been in contact with smallpox. For starters, it's considered a dead disease. It doesn't occur in the wilds anymore. If by some strange happenstance, you did come in contact with small pox, chances are extremely good you would catch it and die. Or be horribly scarred if you happened to survive it. I don't know where you live, but if you live in one of the more industialized countries, most of the people around you are fully immunized and you would be protected by what is called herd immunity. Perhaps you have truly been exposed to TB, Measles, Mumps, Chicken Pox, Diptheria, Whooping Cough and the like- although I must admit I doubt it. If you have been, you have been very very lucky not to have contracted anything. But these diseases are often deadly, and have other complications you would not like. At your age, the chances of a bad outcome are high, and I would not care to live with the risk myself. Do yourself a favor and quit living on luck. Go get yourself immunized completely, and take your cousin with you to get them as well.

Answer 4

Most older people had smallpox vaccinations. Then, America decided it did not have any small pox problems. I have never known anyone with small pox, and I am around sick people all the time. It would be very odd if you DID get small pox.

Answer 5

Smallpox was eradicated years ago, however, these diseases can spring back up, then it is possible to be a carrier of the disease and not show any of the symptoms, there is also the possibility that your immune system is stronger than others too.

Answer 6

Considering smallpox is all but extinct because of chicken pox I'd say it's fairly possible. Chicken pox=smallpox immunity

However, I'd just say you have a killer immune system^^ Be grateful

Answer 7

Yes for some as they have or develop a natural immunity against certain "childhood" diseases. Or could be natural carriers of them. You may not get them, but I have heard that it is possible to spread them.

Link to learn more

http://search.msn.com/results.aspx?q=small+pox&form=QBRE&go.x=12&go.y=6

Answer 8

you were vaccinated, thats why, good lord, and they killed small pox off years ago, it only exists in a lab. vaccines are to keep people from getting these diseases even if exposed.

Answer 9

Yeah, just the luck of the draw.