[Lethal animal pox virus infection in an atopic patient simulating variola vera].

An 18-year-old patient requiring steroid treatment for severe bronchial asthma and with atopic dermatitis acquired a cowpox-like virus infection clinically similar to smallpox from a domestic cat as carrier. In spite of intensive care, with controlled pressure breathing and the last available vaccinia hyperimmunoglobulin, the patient died of pulmonary embolism although viral spread had ceased some days before.