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I dont agree and I'm a nurse. It's funny that you use the word "cure" and you're a doctor? There is no "cure" for smallpox--Giving the vaccine to someone exposed to it (before you even show symptoms) "MAY" lessen the effects of smallpox, but you cannot say with any certainty that it will "cure" the disease. (Check those facts with the CDC and John Hopkins study on smallpox.)

Perhaps you should re-check your sources. This is from the CDC website at:

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/DocumentsApp/FAQsmallpox.asp?link=2#Q8

Is smallpox fatal?

The majority of patients with smallpox recover, but death may occur in up to 30% of cases.

If someone is exposed to smallpox, is it too late to get a vaccination?

If the vaccine is given within 4 days after exposure to smallpox, it can lessen the severity of illness or even prevent it.

Also, re: your comments: The mortality rate of smallpox is 30%.In a population of 280 million, a vaccinated public would have a death rate of 280 people from reaction to the vaccine--compare those stats with 30% of 280 million--which means 84 MILLION people would die in a widespread outbreak of smallpox.

This is assuming that everyone is exposed and that no one is treated. To say that 84 MILLION would die is pretty unreasonable. Would the fatalities be great in number? Most likely, but this discussion is about the risks and the benefits when we don't even know if there is a threat. To over-react to this potential threat could be tragic, as well could be an under-reaction.

I got my info from the same page you did, but perhaps you didnt read that they said there is no treatment except for supportive?

If the vaccine is given within 4 days after exposure to smallpox, it can lessen the severity of illness or even prevent it

I already stated that--look above--that does NOT state it is a cure--write to any health organization, ask them if there is a cure for smallpox and post it here.

Yes the stats of 84 million deaths are with no treatment-Let's cut that in half for the heck of it and say that 42 million were vaccinated within 4 days of exposure BEFORE they showed symptoms (we wont even go into the fact that there isnt vaccine enough for 42 million people).

42 million deaths compared to 280 deaths from vaccine reactions--How about cutting that in half again to 21 million? Or even in half again for only 10.5 million deaths. I stacked the odds wayyy on your side, pretending there is enough vaccine,pretending that people will be vaccinated before even showing symptoms (in that 4 day critical period) and also pretending that smallpox isnt highly contagious. Now lets pretend that Husseins bio scientist never defected or filled us in on his stockpiles. Lets pretend that Bin Laden doesnt hate this entire country--Where is the "fear-mongering"? I'd like to live in Disney land too.

"This is assuming that everyone is exposed and that no one is treated. To say that 84 MILLION would die is pretty unreasonable. Would the fatalities be great in number?"

Her logic is sound. She gave you the worst case scenerio of every American being vaccinated and then the worst case scenerio of every American not being vaccinated.