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Smallpox is an acute, highly contagious and often fatal disease caused by the variola virus. The virus is so dangerous and potentially deadly that one confirmed case of smallpox is considered to be a public health emergency. Oh .. and there is no proven treatment for the disease once a person falls ill. You just administer fluids and antibiotics to handle any secondary infections, and hope that the patent is one of the 70%. The other 30% will die. In case you don't already know, Smallpox has been eradicated worldwide. The eradication is so complete that we don't even vaccinate...

WASHINGTON - A scientific panel recommended against smallpox vaccinations for the general public Tuesday because of concerns about side effects — both for those receiving the shots and others in contact with them. The focus of smallpox preparedness should move away from the number of people vaccinated to concentrate on who needs to be prepared for a possible smallpox attack by terrorists and how communities should respond, the panel said. The efforts of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ready the nation for bioterrorism won praise from Brian Strom of the University of Pennsylvania, chairman of the Institute...