Facts on smallpox:
– The most deadly human disease
– Caused by variola virus
– Humans are the only natural host of variola virus
– There is no known cure
– More than 300 million people worldwide died from smallpox from 1900 to 1978
– Last case in the United States was in 1949
– Last vaccination in the US for smallpox was in 1972
– Last case in the world was in Somalia on October 26, 1977
– In 1980, the World Health Assembly announced that smallpox had been eradicated
– Overall mortality rate for unvaccinated people is 30%
– Inhaling a single particle may be enough to cause infection
– 100 tons of smallpox virus was developed in the Soviet Union
– Particles containing the virus are released into the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or simply talks
– 7-17 day incubation period
– After incubation period, symptoms start and it’s contagious
– Smallpox vaccination discovered in 1796
– ~140,000 vials of vaccine (each vial enough for 50-60 people) are in storage at the CDC
– All smallpox vaccine production facilities were dismantled after 1980
– Renewed vaccine production is estimated to require at least 24-36 months
More Reading:
CDC Official Site on Smallpox
Arm-to-Arm Against Bioterrorism – Donald Miller
Smallpox immunization techniques
Malady of the month
Smallpox – Center for Civilian Biodefense Strategies
Smallpox Information Center – Phages
World Health Organization
Smallpox history
Yahoo listing
Google listing
Smallpox Short Course – LearnWell
Smallpox online diagnosis
Images:
CDC
WHO
Vaccine Reactions – CDC
UCSF