By the way, I wonder what you and the author of the SLATE article would consider an "acceptable" casualty rate? What if only 10% of Americans died? How about only 5%- would that be OK? At what projected case fatality rate should everyone just relax? (A 1% rate would mean the deaths of almost three MILLION Americans...) You know, I have NO IDEA what you are taking about. If smallpox appears in the US, it is (another) act of war, and we should retaliate in kind (for weapon of mass destruction). Even if one person dies, it is still an attack, and should be treated as such. But that isn't what we are discussing in this thread. Why do you keep bringing it up?
I'm just tired of all the scare mongering going on around here lately, and I'm just trying to add some balance to the "we're all going to die" crap that some people are tying to spread.
There has been a lot of misinformation around here about smallpox, and it needs to be corrected.
If it makes you feel better to believe that smallpox, the ancient scourge of mankind, really isn't all THAT dangerous, then do so.
You know, garden variety infections were an "ancient scourge" also. That doesn't mean we are afraid of them now.
I agree with you, also, considering the medical advancements with anti-virals, and care, I think alot of people who did have it would be saved. If the rate of death was 30% how many years ago, it might be different now, especially now that we are so aware of the possibility of it happening and intervention.
If these jerks even have it, and do spread it out to a large amount of people, I don't worry as much about the actual disease, but the reaction of panic and fear from people, and the way the media will try to put the whole durn country into freak out mode.
You can bet the minute someone walks into an emergency ward covered in pustules, severe measures will be taken to contain and vaccinate those at risk. (cross my fingers)
It's the third world countries that will suffer the most.