Contact with or exposure to smallpox

This code signifies a documented instance where an individual has been in proximity to or has otherwise encountered the variola virus, the causative agent of smallpox. It indicates potential exposure to the disease, rather than an active infection.

This code is appropriate for situations involving public health investigations of potential smallpox outbreaks, or for individuals who may have been exposed to variola virus in a laboratory setting. It would also be used for historical cases where exposure was documented but infection did not develop or was not confirmed.

• Assign this code when exposure is confirmed, even if the patient does not develop symptoms or test positive for smallpox.
• Do not use this code for active smallpox infection; a specific diagnosis code for the disease itself would be more appropriate.
• Consider any relevant E-codes (external cause codes) to further describe the circumstances of the exposure, if applicable.