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Hi there, Fitz. The AVERAGE rate of mortality is 30%; however, the last time there was an outbreak in Canada, FIFTY PERCENT of people who contracted small pox died.

I do not understand how anyone can ever say, "ONLY thirty percent."

IF there is ever even ONE case of smallpox anywhere on the planet, the World Health Organization will consider it an international health emergency.

Yes and I don't trust the figure of 30% either because like Paleo pointed out some people had death rates over 70%. In the past entire populations were wiped out and that was when people were far less mobile than we are today. Now if smallpox hits NY, it could be in Chicago within an hour. People travel and it's like colds and flus, people living 2000 miles apart can easily catch a cold from the same person and not know it.

IF there is ever even ONE case of smallpox anywhere on the planet, the World Health Organization will consider it an international health emergency.

I don't put my faith much in government or organizations like WHO because I don't like the approach they're taking so far on this. I don't believe them when they say they can make enough vaccine by the summer (because there isn't anything special they have to do to that virus they make it from), I think it's stupid to wait for outbreaks and then believe the doctors and nurses (entire hospital) who've been exposed will not take the disease home to their own kids and spread it further through the population. It's just like after 1993 when the WTC was hit the first time, there was no reason for them to ignore everything and allow it to be hit again.