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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated

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To: Lane3 who wrote (60113)8/13/2004 1:39:20 PM
From: unclewest  Read Replies (1) of 793928
 
How so? We have both treatments and vaccines for smallpox. A smallpox outbreak, while not pretty or easy, is manageable both before and after the fact.

Alan hit it on the head.

There is no cure for Smallpox.

The CDC briefing I attended in NC shortly after 9/11, predicted 35% fatalities among those hospitalized. Up to 85% if not in a hospital. At that time there was only enough vaccine for about 10% of the population. GWB got that increased so there is now enough for all of us.

Smallpox is highly contagious and can easily be spread by a cough or sneeze, or just sharing the air in a confined space.

Take the 12 - 2 man teams you mentioned, inject them with Smallpox, have them hang around US airports for a few days and you just created a nightmare of unbelievable proportions. 3-4 individuals at different airports would probably be enough as unknowing passengers would disperse the bug around the country overnight.

The vaccine is effective in 95% of people and it can help even if you have already been exposed as long as you take it immediately.
I told my family, the thing to do if an outbreak occurs anywhere is go get the shot.

But with or without the vaccine a widespread Smallpox outbreak could easily kill millions.
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