Question 1

should i be worried about a smallpox outbreak?

Accepted Answer

No: The disease hasn't been seen in the world in 30+ years. Were it to somehow reappear, it would e as easy to eliminate as it was the first time. A vaccine is not generally in use but is available.

Question 2

what would happen in the us if there was a smallpox outbreak?

Accepted Answer

Germ warfare: The primary means by which this would occur is by release of the two sites of containment of the virus.  All unimmunized (most of population) would then be at risk of becoming infected.

Question 3

can i get smallpox?

Accepted Answer

No: Small pox has been eliminated from any possible exposure.  There are two deposits of the virus left:  one in the CDC deep freeze in Atlanta and one in a similar place in Russia.  The only way you could get this disease would be by an act of terrorism which is very unlikely.

Question 4

how does smallpox spread?

Accepted Answer

Person to person: Contact with infectious material from an person with smallpox is how this was passed. There are no insects or animals that spread the germ. Since there has been no cases since 1977, we only hear about this from people worried it may resurface as a bioterror weapon.

Question 5

how do you catch smallpox?

Accepted Answer

Exposure to case: Since the disease hasn't been found active in the world since 1977, it would be quite a notable event for you to get smallpox. While it was active it was passed person to person.

Question 6

how can you cure smallpox?

Accepted Answer

Treatment supportive: Given that 30+ years have past since the last case, there may be newer meds available that would help.Treatment at the time was supportive.

Question 7

how many forms of smallpox exist?

Accepted Answer

One basic disease: As an eradicated disease, no forms are now present in the wild. Some stored virus is present in research as a hedge against any return. In its day, regular smallpox had two presentations that had higher death rates, including a malignant form and a hemorrhagic (blood breakdown form).

Question 8

is it possible that smallpox comes back?

Accepted Answer

Not likely: Not sure if you are asking whether the virus will make a comeback or whether having recovered from infection it can recur.  Assuming the first, there are stored specimens of this virus which could potentially be used as biologic warfare agents.  The argument for complete elimination of these has been going on for years.

Question 9

is smallpox prevalent in other countries?

Accepted Answer

NO: Considered a dead, eradicated disease with the last case in the wild in 1977.The world health organization declared it eradicated in 1979.

Question 10

how did they do the eradication of smallpox?

Accepted Answer

Vaccination: Smallpox eradication was achieved through a massive worldwide vaccination program.

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Smallpox epidemic history

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