Bioterrorism smallpox

Are there plans to manufacture more vaccine in case of a bioterrorism attack using smallpox ... 

Tiemo, P.M., Jr., Protect Yourself against Bioterrorism Everything You Need to Know about Anthrax, Plague, Botulism, Smallpox, Encephalitis, Cholera, Hemorrhagic Fevers, Ricin, and More, Pocket Books, New York, 2002. 

Second we have the issne of bioterrorism. There are many other potential threats smallpox, anthrax, tularemia, plague, a family of viral hemorrhagic fevers, among others. In addition, there are a limitless number of virulent bacteria that might be constructed employing the modem techniqnes of genetic engineering. 

Unfortunately, terrorism and counterterrorism are enormous subjects that are not only vitally important, but are also urgent. A terrorist attack can come in many forms the most worrisome of these is airborne bioterrorism. Anthrax distributed upwind of a city is a serious threat that could kill 100,000 people or more. More frightening, however, is an agent like smallpox that is not only infective, but contagious. Past experience with smallpox has proven its efficiency at causing tens of millions of deaths around the world. 

Since the terrorist attack on New York s World Trade Center, discussions about the global exchange of disease have often focused on bioterrorism. In response to a possible bioterrorist release of smallpox, the U.S. government has stockpiled vaccine and implemented a largely unsuccessful program to vaccinate first responders (Gursky and Parikh 2005). Yet, if smallpox reappears, it will likely do so from the laboratories in the world s most scientifically developed nations. When it comes to infectious diseases, each part of the world threatens and is a threat to its neighbors. 

Baker, A. (2002, August 5). Amid bioterrorism concerns, smallpox scare tests hospital. The New York Times, p. B3. 

The last case of smallpox occurred in 1977, and the eradication of smallpox was declared complete by the World Health Assembly in 1980. Since then, routine smallpox vaccination has ceased in all countries, because it is no longer required and because serious adverse reactions sometimes occur after both primary vaccination and revaccination (SED-8, 709) (SED-11, 685) (SEDA-1, 247) (SEDA-3, 262) (SEDA-4, 227) (SEDA-6, 289) (SEDA-13, 289) (SEDA-15, 357) (1-5). However, the threat of bioterrorism has made it necessary to consider prevention and control... 

The rest of the book, also in q a format, provides basic information on the most likely bioterrorism agents, snch as anthrax, smallpox, plagne and botulism. 

In between, a sort of bioterrorism came to the New World in the fifteenth century, aimed to defeat the Indians. Spanish conquistador Pizarro gave clothing contaminated with the smallpox virus to natives in South America. During the French and Indian War (1754-1767) Sir Jeffrey Amherst, commander of British forces in North America, suggested the deliberate use of smallpox to reduce Native American tribes hostile to the British [116]. An outbreak of smallpox at Fort Pitt results in the opportunity to execute Amherst s plan. On June 24, 1763, Captain Ecuyer, Amherst s subordinate, gives blankets and a handkerchief from the smallpox hospital to the Native Americans and records in his journal, I hope it will have the desired effect. This was followed by an epidemic of smallpox among Native American tribes in the Ohio River valley, which may also have been spread by contact with settlers. Transmission of smallpox by fomites (on blankets) is inefficient compared with respiratory droplet transmission. 

The unique properties and particular importance of smallpox virus are discussed, both as a bioterrorism threat and as a major biohazard in general. It appears to pose, potentially, a colossal menace, which ought to be intensely coped with. The issues of renewed vaccination and ongoing research are then addressed, showing the complexity related to that singular pathogen. 

In March 2003, smallpox scabs were found tucked inside an envelope in a book on Civil War medicine in Santa Fe, New Mexico [260]. The envelope was labeled as containing the scabs and listed the names of the patients that were vaccinated with them. Assuming the contents could be dangerous, the librarian who found them did not open the envelope. This was fortunate, as unlike bacteria (with the exception of those that produce spores), viruses can theoretically survive for many years. The scabs ended up with employees from the National Center for Disease Control, who responded quickly once in-formed of the discovery. The discovery raised concerns that smallpox DNA could be extracted from these and other scabs and used for a bioterrorism attack. 

The Variola major virus is very stable and survives in exudates from patients for many months. The virus is unlikely to survive in dried crusts for more than a year [266]. Yet, it can be preserved in sealed ampules at 4°C for many years, and indefinitely by freeze-drying. This leads to the presumption that the virus still may be preserved alive within bodies of victims buried in permafrost. Much more feasible, however, the practical employment of smallpox virus for bioterrorism purposes is remarkably worrisome and reckoned to be a prime threat. 

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