I’ve read about the U.S. planning to innoculate everyone
against smallpox. I was innoculated before I began elementary school
when that was a requirement. Would that vaccination still be
effective?
I suspect so. Some of the testing for the current versions of the vaccine
have been carried out here (at St. Louis University and Washington
University med schools) in recent weeks; when they were recruiting for
volunteers for the tests, one of the requirements was that you had *not*
ever had a smallpox vaccination done. That (and the age requirement, but we
won’t discuss that
Actually, I am concerned far less about anthrax and smallpox
than I am about, for example, the flu. The flu is like seasickness.
You spend half the time thinking you are going to die and the rest of
the time hoping you will. And, if I’m not mistaken, more people die in
the U.S. each year from influenza than from any bioterrorist threat.
Yep, that’s the real issue right now. And I seem to recall having heard a
news report within the past couple of days that indicated that flu shots
were in short supply at the moment because companies that manufacture it
were gearing up for anthrax and smallpox vaccine production. I really would
like to get a flu shot this year, but not if I’m going to have to wait until
after Christmas, as happened last year – that’s too late for this part of
the country, as far as effectiveness goes.
And, if I’m not mistaken, more people die in
the U.S. each year from influenza than from any bioterrorist threat.
About 20,000 per year die of influenza.
When you catch any of these diseases, the national infection-rate is
irrelavent. Whether you are one in one thousand or one in a hundred million,
you’re still infected. At that point, it is an issue of the mortality rate,
which, for otherwise healthy people, is tiny in influenza, 50% in smallpox,
40% in untreated cutaneous anthrax, and 95% in untreated inhaled anthrax.
Another factor is that anthrax is treatable if diagnosed early, because it
is a bacteria. The other two are viruses, and are not treatable. Supporting
a smallpox patient will slightly improve survivability, just as it does an
influenza patient, but there is no treatment and no cure for either.
The third issue is contagion. Smallpox is dangerous because it is far more
contagious than influenza, and it takes about two weeks for any diagnosable
symptoms to show up. The infected individual is highly contagious during
that time. It is smallpox’s very slow yet highly contagious nature combined
with high mortality that causes it to be such a threat.
There is a scenario where one single individual could infect upwards of
100,000 individuals in over 200 cities before a single one of them developed
the first diagnosable sypmptom of the disease. It is likely 50,000 deaths
would result in the first four weeks, and one does not want to even think of
what happens after that, but it grows exponentially.
Who would treat all those people? Hospital staff? They’d have the disease
themselves in days. If not in hours. They’d likely be among the earlier
casualties.
CDC Search Results List
1 1.00 http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/submenus/sub_smallpox.htm
Smallpox, disease information, NCID, CDC
Summary: Infectious Disease Information Contents Infectious Diseases Information Index Useful Sites Smallpox From Public Health Response and
Preparedness, CDC NCID Home | Disease Information | NCID Organization | Publications | Guidelines | Contact Us
14765 bytes, updated 11-03-2001
2 1.00 http://www.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/smallpox.htm
CDC Travelers’ Health Information on Smallpox
Summary: In May 1980, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global eradication of smallpox. The risk from smallpox vaccination, although
very small, now exceeds the risk of smallpox; consequently, smallpox vaccination of civilians is indicated only for
17860 bytes, updated 10-27-2001
3 1.00 http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00000556.htm
Recommendation of the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee Sma
Summary: The basic recommendation is unchanged–smallpox vaccine is only indicated for civilians who are laboratory workers occupationally exposed to
smallpox or other closely related orthopox viruses. Smallpox vaccine (vaccinia virus) is a highly effective immuni
8512 bytes, updated 10-28-2000
4 1.00 http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/news4kids/smallpox.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/news4kids/smallpox.pdf
Summary: CDC CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AGENCY FOR TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND PREVENTION AND DISEASE REGISTRY Front Design Infectious Diseases 1 # Series
SMALLPOX 2000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention People don’t get sick with smallpox anymore. For 2, 000 y
1116098 bytes, updated 01-26-2001
5 1.00 http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/professional/drgsrv_smallpox.htm
Division of Parasitic Diseases – Drug Service – Vaccinia Vaccine
Summary: Vaccinia (Smallpox) vaccine, a licensed product, is a suspension containing a strain of living virus of vaccinia whose origin and
manipulation is FDA approved. The vaccinia is grown in the skin of a vaccinated bovine calf (3). After the global eradicatio
10125 bytes, updated 10-28-2000
6 1.00 http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00000234.htm
International Notes Smallpox Vaccination
Summary: According to WHO, the collaboration of national health administrations in withdrawing the requirement for smallpox vaccination certificates
has been very positive. All the countries of the world except Chad, in Africa, have advised WHO that an Internatio
4533 bytes, updated 10-28-2000
7 1.00 http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00000116.htm
Notice to Readers Smallpox Vaccine No Longer Available for Civilian
Summary: In May 1983, Wyeth Laboratories, Inc., discontinued general distribution of smallpox vaccine; production for general use was discontinued in
1982. Wyeth is the only active, licensed producer of smallpox vaccine in the United States. Wyeth continues to p
3218 bytes, updated 10-28-2000
8 1.00 http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00000557.htm
Epidemiologic Notes and Reports Investigation of a Smallpox Rumor –
Summary: On August 13, 1984, CDC was notified by the Infectious Disease Section, California Department of Health Services, of a possible smallpox
case. The Contra Costa County (California) Health Department had received the report from a participant in a multinat
6173 bytes, updated 10-28-2000
9 1.00 http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00000161.htm
Notice to Readers Smallpox Vaccine Available for Protection of At-R
Summary: civilian laboratory personnel exposed to orthopox viruses (particularly variola (smallpox) and vaccinia viruses) (2) and persons involved in
producing or testing smallpox vaccine. only source of smallpox vaccine for civilians. Immunobiologics Activity C
3204 bytes, updated 10-28-2000
10 1.00 http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00000811.htm
International Notes Orthopoxvirus Infections
Summary: Smallpox vaccination policy: All member states of WHO report that they have discontinued routine smallpox vaccination and that a certificate
of smallpox vaccination from international travelers is no longer required in any country in the world. Reserve s
5323 bytes, updated 10-28-2000
11 1.00 http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol7no6/meltzer_appendix1G.htm
CDC – Modeling Potential Responses to Smallpox as a Bioterrorist Weapon: Appendix I
Summary: Frequency, by generation of
disease, of the number of persons infected with smallpox by an infectious person. Average refers to the mean
number of persons infected. Not all sources reported five generations of disease.
8275 bytes, updated 07-28-2001
12 1.00 http://www.cdc.gov/eis/abouteis/p1970.htm
Profiles of EIS Officers – 1970
Summary: EIS Assignment: An EIS officer assigned to the smallpox eradication program, Koplan worked in both domestic and international settings,
including in Bangladesh, one of the last outposts of smallpox. His work and that of other EIS officers contributed to
17619 bytes, updated 09-29-2001
13 1.00 http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00000121.htm
Vaccinia Outbreak — Nevada
Summary: In April 1983, seven cases of contact vaccinia infection were identified in Nevada following exposure to a recently vaccinated military
dependent. On April 14, the vaccinee, an 11-year-old girl, mistakenly received a smallpox vaccination during immunizat
4555 bytes, updated 10-28-2000
14 1.00 http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol7no6/pdf/meltzer_appendix1.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol7no6/pdf/meltzer_appendix1.pdf
Summary: 6, November December 2001 Emerging Infectious Diseases i The mathematical model we described requires the researcher to preset the average
number of diseasesusceptible persons infected by an infectious patient (i. To obtain historical data describing th
68182 bytes, updated 07-23-2001
15 0.99 http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00000188.htm
International Notes Orthopox Surveillance: Post-Smallpox Eradicatio
Summary: WHO encourages all countries to cease smallpox vaccination, except to protect laboratory workers exposed to orthopox viruses. Reserve stocks
of smallpox vaccine: WHO has established two refrigerated storage depots for smallpox vaccine (Geneva and New Del
7815 bytes, updated 10-28-2000
16 0.99 http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol7no6/meltzer_appendix1.htm
CDC – Modeling Potential Responses to Smallpox as a Bioterrorist Weapon: Appendix I
Summary: The mathematical model we described requires the researcher to preset the average number of disease-susceptible persons infected by an
infectious patient (i.e., the rate of transmission). To obtain historical data describing the average number of persons
78616 bytes, updated 09-08-2001
17 0.99 http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol5no4/pdf/henderson2.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol5no4/pdf/henderson2.pdf
Summary: 537 Vol 5 No 4 JulyAugust 1999 Emerging Infectious Diseases Special Issue Clinical and Epidemiologic Characteristics of Smallpox Smallpox is
a viral disease unique to humans To sustain itself the virus must pass from person to person in a continuing chain
257890 bytes, updated 07-21-2000
18 0.99 http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol6no6/pdf/cover.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol6no6/pdf/cover.pdf
Summary: Dr. Ryusai Kuwata (Bunka 8/ 1811- Keio 4/ 1868) from Edo (modern Tokyo) made this color woodcut print to advertise the effectiveness of the
vaccination to protect against smallpox; he used this picture at the Osaka Vaccination Clinic. Dr. Kuwata, who wa
13330 bytes, updated 11-17-2000
19 0.99 http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol7no6/meltzerG3.htm
CDC – Modeling Potential Responses to Smallpox as a Bioterrorist Weapon
Summary: Martin I. Meltzer,* Inger Damon,* James W. LeDuc,* and J. Donald Millar~ *Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA;
and ~Don Millar & Associates, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, USA Back to article Figure 3. Daily and cumulative proba
8209 bytes, updated 07-28-2001
20 0.99 http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol7no6/meltzerG2.htm
CDC – Modeling Potential Responses to Smallpox as a Bioterrorist Weapon
Summary: Back to article Figure 2. Probability functions associated with remaining in three smallpox disease stages. These reverse cumulative
probability functions describe the probability on any defined day of a patient’s remaining in a disease stage during the
8196 bytes, updated 07-28-2001
21 0.99 http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00000144.htm
Post-Smallpox Eradication Surveillance
Summary: World Health Assembly for post-smallpox eradication surveillance, the World Health Organization (WHO) is continuing to coordinate and
participate in the investigation of suspected smallpox cases throughout the world. These reports were investigated by na
7132 bytes, updated 10-28-2000