Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lane3 who wrote (60113)	8/13/2004 1:39:20 PM
From: unclewest	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793916

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.