Panel 44. This name of poxviruses comes from the ability of these viruses to induce skin pustules (as pox is the plural of pock, a pustule). This photograph shows the negative staining of poxviruses inducing an infection named molluscum contagiosum. In solution, the virus resembles a large brick about 1/4000th of a millimeter long by 1/6000th of a millimeter wide. It induces pustules on the skin containing many copies of the virus. Human-to-human transmission occurs through skin-to-skin contact or via towels. These infections are benign as they regress spontaneously, without any particular intervention. It is just recommended to protect the lesions to avoid contagion because, as the name of the infection indicates, this virus is extremely contagious.