Thinking Ahead: Should Smallpox Become Reality, What Do We Do?

[ChemistCat]

There is a sizeable, cautious, but not hysterical contingent on FR that believes we may have been exposed to smallpox at some time in the last week. It's not something we know is happening. It's something we think is a reasonable scenario in light of other events. I'm starting this thread as a place to discuss what preparations our nation and communities do NOT seem to be making, and what our personal plans of action are if this CONTAGIOUS bioattack vector eclipses anthrax.

[John Jorsett]

This works FINE for natural outbreaks of disease in not-so-mobile societies. A society like ours with an extremely mobile population has never before been hit with a DELIBERATE and INFECTIOUS bioagent. Anthrax and Ebola simply are not comparable models, anthrax because while it was deliberately introduced into our society it is not contagious, and ebola because it has never been introduced into a culture with interstates and dozens of busy airports.

I wasn't suggesting that Ebola is going to be employed here, I was using it as an example of how outbreaks of infectious diseases are handled. Ebola is an unlikely threat due to the difficulties of making, transporting, and dispersing it. As I made clear, mobility isn't going to be an issue in smallpox, since those infected will become immobile before they're infectious. Terrorists may be able to infect a number of people somehow, but it won't go much beyond them if the authorities act as they should, isolating the victims, innoculating emergency response personnel and anyone else in the vicinity. They'll employ innoculation both in the danger zone and in 'rings' about it, much like a firebreak. They will probably limit travel in and out for those not immunized.

As much as a threat this is, I don't see it turning into a pandemic. At least, not with smallpox. For other diseases, I might have a different opinion.

[I'm ALL Right!]

ping

[ChemistCat]

I've gotten on many a long air voyage well and gotten off sick. I've seen kids at school and adults at work who are so sick they can hardly stand up, yet they feared draconian attendance policies enough to go anyway. I myself have sent a kid to school whom I thought was only whining, only to get a phone call from the nurse--your kid has a fever, come get her. Again, third world models won't apply to a hectic American society. We simply do not behave the same way, and it is behavior that dictates how disease spreads.

[joathome]

"I'm noticing something scary here. Everyone who is arguing that smallpox isn't a threat, that we're stupid to be even discussing the subject, is arguing without basis in fact. They're making assumptions about the quantity of vaccine available, for instance, that simply are not borne out by data provided by the government. I would sure like it if those who dismiss the threat could use reason to dismiss it. None of them are--they are chiefly using ridicule."

Exactly. This was supposed to be a thread about "what if". Just "what if" the terrorists did release smallpox here? So, the likelihood is small. That's not the point. The issue is what would we do "if" that happened. As for me and my house........:)

We have a storage of food and water. We live in a suburb of a major city. We probably wouldn't leave our home, but we'd stay here. We have enough food that I wouldn't "have" to go to the store for quite a while. By that time, hopefully, the vaccine would be available. If we suspected that there were a good chance that one of us would be infected, we probably all separate into different rooms during what would be the incubation period. Since my youngest is ten, that's not difficult to do. If one of the children became ill with smallpox, only one of us would tend that child. I will do everything possible not to leave my other children orphans. My husband never developed a scar from smallpox vaccinations as a child, and believes he is naturally immune. I hope so.

I was around chicken pox frequently as a child, and never got it. I assume I have a natural immunity to it. Not everyone gets every disease.

In the meantime, there's never been a better reason to take care of our health, take vitamins, get adequate rest, etc. That's always good advice, but especially good advice, now.

[Geezerette]

Yes, what you say brings back such memories of scarlet fever, polio, and even the quarantine signs they put on the doors for Measles and Chicken Pox!

I've heard conflicting reports about whether a vaccination scar (smallpox) is still good after 50 plus years!

g

[snorkeler]

I'm not sure what you are talking about. I'm reading people calmly saying that they have thought ahead and are prepared with a plan. I doubt that is the type of behavior the terrorists are seeking to spread.

What is so awful about being prepared?

[mykdsmom]

Same with me, my mom never developed a scar and neither did my brother or I. Dr. told her she had some natural immunity and that's why she doesn't have the scar.

Let's pray this is the case.

MKM

[norraad]

The good thing about Garlic & Oil of Oregano is that they are good foods for you as well.

Anti-biotics are poisons by nature{look it up} & are not good for you ever. They will always weaken your immune system, which you have to stay healthy & alive.

The herbals are easy on your system & stimulate & build up your strength.

They are also cheaper & taste better{pull apart one of those anti-biotic capsules & taste the "white powder"}.

Garlic[Allium sativa; Liliaceae]'s active constituents: Allyl sulfide, allicin, alliin & Vitamins A and C , etc.

Do a google search to find out more.

I take about 500mg~2500mg/day{in good Garlic oil capsules, deoderized, no smell} depending on my schedule & eating habits.

The oil of Oregano, usually only one 500mg capsule/day.

Again, do your own research & adjust accordingly.

But the above habits keeps me from being sick, ever.

[NetSurfer]

Statement for the Record by Richard Preston Before The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism & Government Information and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

Chemical and Biological Weapons Threats to America: Are We Prepared?

This is from April, 1998. Contains information about blackpox. One section in particular caught my attention:

In a military release of smallpox, the victims would be receiving extremely high doses of smallpox, far higher than in a natural outbreak, and we can suspect that many of the victims would be developing blackpox and having smallpox bleedouts. Blackpox is even more contagious than so-called ordinary smallpox.

I know from our correspondence that you have also read Preston's fact-based novel The Cobra Event and wanted to mention it in this posting, in case there are other FReepers out there that might read this post and want to check it out. Also worth reading is The Demon In the Freezer, which discounts the notion that only the US and Russia have access to smallpox.

[ChemistCat]

more good information BUMP
"of concern" information PING

[Old Student]

The Spanish Flu was a scary thing. It nearly ended WWI all by itself. It certainly ended a lot of the combatants (and noncombatants) at the time. I remember an article about the discovery of the grave of an individual who probably died of it north of the Arctic Circle, and had been buried in a permafrost layer. They exhumed him to try to get samples so they could figure out what it really was. (Virii were unknown at the time, as the technology wasn't up to seeing them, so tiny are they.) Didn't work. Fortunately, or not?

[Geezerette]

Elderberries!! Yes!!! A lady Israeli doctor has been a guest several times on our local call-in show hosted by an alternative medicine physician! She has a name that I can't remember nor pronounce, but her product is called, "Sambucol". It is produced by Nature's Way under her direction!

Comes in either a delicious liquid (elderberries taste GOOD!) or capsules. The liquid is more exensive than I can go with, so I bought capsules last year. They are gone now, but now is a great time to re-stock!

g

[Riley]

I say 'only', because I thought it was a much higher mortality rate- like 80-90%.

[Jaidyn]

I read the same conflicting reports. We might have a bit of immunity. I do remember the terrible reaction I had which ended up with blisters all over my upper arm and hurt like H. Maybe that gave me more immunity. If any of my children or grandchildren contracted that disease I would find out.

[_Jim]

Hmmm ... maybe those unused Y2K rations will finaly get used up by the bunker-mentality set.

I envision a 1 month (or longer) isolation imposed by the National Guard of each state at the state borders - food service industry and transport workers will be the first to receive the vaccines - all others in non-critical roles will be restricted to their houses - food will be distributed each week by the Guard and -

- those Y2K concentration camps (as EXPOSED right here on FR!) will finally be used by those who VIOLATE the Federally mandated travel resriction orders ...

[ChemistCat]

Maybe the bunker-mentality-set are the ones with a clue. We're three miles from Tinker AFB so if the BIG SHTF we are toast and we know it. However, I plan to survive anything less. Maybe that's silly. But I've survived 7 hurricanes, four tornadoes including the big May 3rd 1999 one, and I swore I was never going to let anything less ever scare me again!

[George from New England]

Don't forget the people in the third world countries work with animals a lot more than we do. The natural Cowpox immunity will help them considerably.

[George from New England]

Could someone start a small pox list, like the anthrax list.

[SwankyC]

My mask is internal, good ol'garlic, lot's of it!

Seriously, what do you mean? Just eat lots of garlic and rub yourself down with oregano and you're good to go?

[ChemistCat]

I would like that. I don't know how or whom to ask. Gentlemen?