cowpox

[kou-poks]

noun

Veterinary Pathology.

1. an eruptive disease appearing on the teats and udders of cows, cow, in which small pustules form that contain a virus used in the vaccination of humans against smallpox.

cowpox

/ ˈkaʊˌpɒks /

noun

1. a contagious viral disease of cows characterized by vesicles on the skin, esp on the teats and udder. Inoculation of humans with this virus provides temporary immunity to smallpox. It can be transmitted to other species, esp cats

Word History and Origins

Origin of cowpox¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; cow ¹ + pox

Example Sentences

Essentially, the basic structure of this vaccine is identical to one routinely used to immunise elephants against a virus called cowpox.

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Monkeypox is a poxvirus in the same family as variola – the virus that causes smallpox – and cowpox viruses and likely evolved in animals before jumping to humans.

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This subset includes the smallpox, vaccinia and cowpox viruses.

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Edward Jenner, an English doctor, then figured out that exposing people to cowpox, a much more mild disease, could stave off smallpox.

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Essentially, the backbone of this vaccine is identical to one routinely used to immunise elephants against a virus called cowpox.

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