Replies

I do have the scar from the smallpox vaccine on my arm. My doctor gave it to me in the late 1970's. So, I feel a certain measure of comfort from that knowledge. However, it is important to note that the immunologic effect of the vaccine wanes (decreases) over the years.

Mine was well before the 70's (that is when my kids got theirs..)But because it was a live virus I suspect all of us that had the vaccine have "some level" of immunity..maybe enought that we will just look like monsters but live through it..let the kids get it first..work from birth up..seems the fairest way!

Personally with a 30% death rate Smallpox worries me much less than Eboli...

Personally with a 30% death rate Smallpox worries me much less than Eboli...

Yeah well I'm much more afraid of Smallpox then Ebola. Smallpoox is EXTREMELY infectious. Documented cases of 1 person infecting over 1,000 individuals. Alsoc contrary to some of the info floating around it IS infectious before you break out in the lesions, you shed from the oropharyxn just like the flu.

Ebola while with a higher fatality rate is spread only by body fluids, and is SO deadly that it tends to "burn itself out", people die before they can spread it very far, so it's easier to contain.

Frankly either one scares the hell out of me and I AM a doctor. An ER physician. Any major epidemic would be a disaster. Right now we have NO room in most hospitals and we are all dreading the routine annual "flu" season. Add another major epidemic on that and the system will cave in.

We must make our intentions of STERILIZING any suspected source of a bio attack before it happens. ALL the weight of our military BY ANY MEANS NESSESARY must be employed. Anyone who dares this type of assault should be converted into a radioactive vapor....

Personally with a 30% death rate Smallpox worries me much less than Eboli...

Wrong. Ebola kills people so quickly that it can't spread too far. Smallpox was continuously transmitted from person to person for thousands of years!