View source for Vaccinia

== Vaccinia ==

'''Vaccinia''' (pronunciation: /vækˈsɪniə/) is a genus of viruses in the family Poxviridae, and is the virus used in the smallpox vaccine. The term is derived from the Latin ''vaccinus'', meaning "of or from the cow", as the smallpox vaccine was historically derived from cowpox.

=== Etymology ===

The term "vaccinia" is derived from the Latin ''vaccinus'', meaning "of or from the cow". This is in reference to the historical use of cowpox to create the smallpox vaccine. The term was first used in this context by Edward Jenner in 1796, who discovered that milkmaids who had contracted cowpox did not catch smallpox.

=== Related Terms ===

* [[Smallpox]]: A highly contagious and deadly disease caused by the variola virus. Vaccinia was used to create the smallpox vaccine.
* [[Cowpox]]: A disease caused by a virus similar to vaccinia, which was historically used to create the smallpox vaccine.
* [[Poxviridae]]: The family of viruses that includes vaccinia.
* [[Virus]]: A small infectious agent that can only replicate inside the living cells of an organism. Vaccinia is a type of virus.
* [[Vaccine]]: A biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular disease. Vaccinia was used to create the smallpox vaccine.

=== See Also ===

* [[Edward Jenner]]
* [[Vaccination]]
* [[Immunology]]

[[Category:Medical Dictionary]]
[[Category:Virology]]
[[Category:Immunology]]

{{dictionary-stub}}