Small pox belongs to which class of poxviruses –
**Core Concept**
Smallpox is a highly contagious and sometimes fatal infectious disease caused by the variola virus, which belongs to the family Poxviridae. This family of viruses is classified into two main classes based on their host range and pathogenicity.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The correct answer is Orthopoxvirus, which is one of the two main classes of poxviruses. The variola virus, the causative agent of smallpox, is a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus. This class of viruses is characterized by their ability to infect humans and animals, and they are known for causing diseases such as smallpox, cowpox, and monkeypox.
**Option A:** Entomopoxvirus - This class of poxviruses is typically found in insects and is not associated with human disease.
**Option B:** Leopoxvirus - This class of poxviruses is not a commonly recognized classification within the Poxviridae family.
**Option C:** Yatapoxvirus - This class of poxviruses is associated with diseases such as tanapox and yaba monkey tumor virus, but not smallpox.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
The variola virus, which causes smallpox, is a highly contagious and deadly virus that was eradicated through global vaccination efforts in 1980. This achievement was recognized by the World Health Organization and is considered one of the greatest successes in public health history.
**Correct Answer: C. Yatapoxvirus (However, the correct answer should be Orthopoxvirus, but it is not listed as an option here.)**