I pointed out it can be passed via aerosol route, correcting an impression that it had to be after pox appeared. You confirmed it.
You go on to say that at that stage there will be a concommittant oral mucosal rash.
No argument or disagreement.
Now you seem to be saying there will be obvious skin lesions before theire is contagiousness.
You are all over the board.
There are two extremes, one that tries to scare people. The other that tries to downplay.
You seem to be doing the latter.
Let's try a different tratc because I think we are simply miscommunicating.
Is it possible that a person could infect another, prior to skin pox or skin rash, without knowing he has been infected with small pox?
I'm not asking without knowing they are sick. I'm not asking how likley it would be. Just is it possible and has it happened in the past.
I have no idea what you are getting at. Instead of asking me, why don't you read all of the references (JAMA, CDC, Johns Hopkins, etc) for the answers to your questions.
Here are the facts. After infection, the incubation period is 7-17 days, but is almost always 12. Following that, the patient will experience a high fever, general malaise, and severe muscle aches, usually rendering the patient bedridden. The prodromal phase usually last 2-3 days, in which they are not contagious. After that, the rash begins to form. Usually the rash begins to form in the oral mucosa and throat, then spreading to the skin. At the point the rash begins to form in the mouth, the disease is contagious, and for the first week afterwards it is at it's most contagious.
So I guess your answer would be, no.
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