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"I had contracted dragon pox shortly before arriving at school, and while I was no longer contagious, my pockmarked visage and greenish hue did not encourage many to approach me."
Elphias Doge's account of having Dragon Pox[src]

Dragon Pox[14] was a potentially fatal contagious disease that affected wizards and witches.[10] Muggles could also contract the disease, but it was prevented under the Statute of Secrecy. Its symptoms were presumably similar to Muggle illnesses like chicken pox. In addition to leaving the victim's skin pockmarked, dragon pox caused a lasting greenish tinge.[2] The symptoms of simpler cases included a green-and-purple rash between the toes and sparks coming out of the nostrils when the patient sneezed.[3]

History[]

"Occasionally they would catch snatches of advice on how to treat dragonpox, and once a few bars of “A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love."
Wizarding Wireless Network[src]

The first cases of Dragon Pox were wizards working closely with Peruvian Vipertooths;[1] In the 1100s Gunhilda Kneen was recorded as having to forgo playing Chaser in a Quidditch match when she came down with a "touch" of the sickness.[7] The first person known to have lethally succumbed to dragon pox was Chauncey Oldridge in 1379.[6][4]

At some point while the Goldstein sisters were toddlers, Mr and Mrs Goldstein contracted this disease and died.[9]

In the 16th or 17th century, Gunhilda of Gorsemoor developed a cure for dragon pox,[4] but the disease had not been completely eradicated. It was still treated by the Magical Bugs ward at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries on the second floor.[15] Elphias Doge got dragon pox shortly before he started at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in September 1892.[2] At some point in her youth, Tulip Karasu was admitted to St Mungo's with dragon pox.[8]

Elderly patients were apparently more susceptible to dragon pox than younger ones. Minister for Magic Eldritch Diggory died of it in office in 1747.[13] Others who had died of it included: Abraxas Malfoy,[10] and Fleamont and Euphemia Potter.[11] They died of it recently, in the second half of the 20th century.

Howland Coopey wrote to the Daily Prophet with symptoms that Professor Helbert Spleen diagnosed as Dragon Pox, although he did state that it would go away of its own accord, rather than recommending that Mr Coopey go to St Mungo's to get the Dragon Pox cure.[3]

The Moldovan National Quidditch team could not participate in the 2014 Quidditch World Cup due to an outbreak of Dragon Pox at their training camp, leaving their supporters devastated.[14]

Known sufferers[]

"I was sorry to hear he had died, although of course it wasn't unexpected, dragon pox at his age...."
Horace Slughorn regarding Draco Malfoy's grandfather Abraxas[src]
Wizard(s) Notes
Chauncey Oldridge First known victim.[4][6]
Howland Coopey Survived the illness.[3]
Gunhilda Kneen[7]
Elphias Doge[2]
Tulip Karasu[8] Admitted to St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries; survived.
Unidentified Dragonologist[12]
Eldritch Diggory[13] Died from the illness.
Mrs Goldstein[9]
Mr Goldstein[9]
Abraxas Malfoy Died from a combination of old age and the illness.[10][11]
Fleamont Potter
Euphemia Potter[11]

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

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