[ecru]

The Smallpox Report... Scenario #1 Reporter looking for breaking story. Hears about some kind of "pox" on children in region, wants to expose how unfair gov't is to helping poor people. Confuses "Chicken" with "Small"...unintentionally causes creepy thread on FR boards with misinformation.

Scenario #2 Someone finds report in local section of Pakistani paper, CDC notified, CDC on plane _right now_ checking situation out. Noone allowed to report on situation till confirmation confirmationally confirmed.

Scenario #3 Big Government Conspiracy Coverup.

[OReilly]

Scenario #1 Reporter looking for breaking story. Hears about some kind of "pox" on children in region, wants to expose how unfair gov't is to helping poor people. Confuses "Chicken" with "Small"...unintentionally causes creepy thread on FR boards with misinformation.

I understand why CDC personnel would not comment further till more information available. But if this is such a disaster in the making, one would think that Dawn, the largest English language paper in Pakistan, would be deluged with questions and would have the good grace to say something in the interim.

It is Monday night over there and not a word on the web site. This must have been reported before and found to be nothing by those who would have investigated it.