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Wednesday, December 11, 2002
Research hasn't yielded specific treatment yet
CDC: Smallpox kills 1 in 3 infected

The vaccine, which is given in the upper arm, can give years of immunity.

By JEFF STURGEON
THE ROANOKE TIMES

   Here's basic smallpox information, based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

    What is smallpox: Smallpox is a serious, highly contagious infectious disease caused by the variola virus that kills one in three people it infects.

    While research continues, there is no specific treatment and the only prevention is vaccination with the virus vaccinia, another pox-type virus. Smallpox outbreaks have occurred for thousands of years, but the disease is extinct after a successful worldwide vaccination program.

    The last case in the United States was in 1949. Routine vaccination ended in 1972. The last naturally occurring case in the world was in Somalia in 1977.

    What's happening: Federal authorities acknowledge the possibility of a terrorist attack with smallpox as the weapon.

    The Bush administration is expected to recommend voluntary vaccination of health care workers and others who would respond to such an attack. The vaccine may be offered later to police and fire departments, ambulance crews and other "first responders," and, eventually, the public.

    About the vaccination: The vaccine, given in the upper arm, can give years of immunity, although those injected before 1972 have unknown immunity and aren't considered protected any longer. Most people experience mild and temporary side effects after receiving the vaccine. They go away without treatment and include a sore at the site; sore, enlarged armpit glands; and low fever. One-third will feel bad enough to miss work, school or recreational activities or have trouble sleeping.

    The case against vaccination : Because of the potential for serious side effects in some people, the vaccine is not recommended for everyone on a precautionary, pre-attack basis.

    People who should not be vaccinated include pregnant women, people with immune system problems (because of diseases like AIDS or treatments like chemotherapy), people with certain skin conditions such as eczema and people living with someone less than a year old.

    Serious, non-life-threatening side effects include widespread sores on the body, a cluster of sores or a rash. Although side effects are treatable with a drug in limited supply, one or two in a million die from the vaccination.

    The case for the vaccine: In the event of a covert smallpox release, an unvaccinated person exposed to smallpox is unlikely to know he has been exposed for a week or more because of the delayed onset of symptoms, which include high fever, head and body aches, and a spreading rash of raised bumps.

    If unaware, the person would not know to seek medical care in time for the vaccination to prevent the disease. The vaccine only can prevent infection within three days of exposure. For partial relief, it must be given within seven days of exposure. Symptoms appear seven to 17 days after exposure, on average on day 13. Vaccination of the U.S. population before an attack - ample supplies will exist by month's end - could greatly reduce or eliminate the risk of infection.

    On the Net: www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/index.asp 

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ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.