[ignatz_q]

I am totally enraged at the mere thought.

I can understand that, but I'm not so angry about the situation. For one thing, there is still exactly zero evidence that any smallpox exists except for two tiny, secure amounts in disease research facilities in the U.S. and Russia. For another, the disease does seem to be erradicated as a natural pathogen.

I'm not trying to downplay the possibility that it could be used for an attack, but the odds are much, much Even if Iraq or a terrorist group has smallpox, it's very hard to handle safely, and even harder to deliver effectively. I want us to start stockpiling vaccine to be safe, but I'm just not sure that mass-innoculation is the answer at this point.

[arkfreepdom]

I believe that is the plan....stockpile 300 million. The vaccine is effective if giving early in the course.

[newzjunkey]

...and even harder to deliver effectively.

These are people have clearly and undeniably demonstrated a eager willingness to die. They won't care about being infected with smallpox if that's what it takes to deliver death to our door.

[alethia]

My response suggested that if we see outbreaks of smallpox -- particularly since it is quite rare, there would be no mistaking the intent. The intent is what enrages me. If I could trade places with my son, I would. Mother's focus speaking -- and not just for my own, but for all of our children.

Again, great article. Thanks for posting.

[McGavin999]

That's been my point since the beginning of this talk about smallpox. It is such a virilant disease, it would spread to the third world so fast it would make the terrorists heads spin. The Muslim world would be most at risk because they have huge populations, lack of sanitation, lack of medical facilities etc.

We would recover. Some of us have had vaccinations, we live spread out, cities would be quickly quaranteed, there is enough vaccinations available to treat those exposed. However, the Muslim countries would probably end up losing half their population, and the remaining half would be horribly disfigured. If the terrorists use smallpox, they are condemning their own people and way of life to death.