Treatment of orf poxvirus lesion with cidofovir cream

Orf is a human disease caused by poxvirus of sheep. Orf usually occurs on the human hand or arm, after contrac with ovine saliva. In healthy children the orf skin lesion typically persists for 6 to 8 weeks and then heals with minimal scarring. In the immunocompromised patients, however, the ofr lesion can enlarge and cause necrosis of the affected appendage. Treatment with the topical antiviral cidofovir is efficacious.