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Smallpox "only" has a 30% mortality rate? Or is that the mortality rate for smallpox YEARS AGO?

This is a very good point. We thought inhaled anthrax had a 90% fatality rate, but so far we've seen a better rate of survival.

We have antivirals now, and it will be interesting to see if they can be used.

I got chicken pox at the age of 42 and because of antivirals, I was sick for only 4 days. Years ago, an adult with chicken pox would have been very ill.

Plus, one of the factors of mortality in smallpox is secondary infection, when the blisters break. We have much stronger antibiotics now.

Let's just say this, if smallpox is unleashed on the US, and thus the world, America will handle the outbreak much better than the majority of other countries.

Hi Dawn53. You are right: "They" are really surprised that postmodern medical care is curing inhalational anthrax. AND, let us hope & pray that same would occur in the event of weaponized influenza strains, plagues, or smallpox.

But a 30% mortality rate is HUGE. Period.

"This is a very good point. We thought inhaled anthrax had a 90% fatality rate, but so far we've seen a better rate of survival."

That's attributable to the fact that these patients have been put on state of the art antibiotics AND respirators, from what I understand. In a true anthrax emergency, how many of those respirators do you think are just lying around?