I'd expect CDC to know about this by now if it is real and to have their international cohorts to the scene shortly.
And if it is real, then there's some "splain'in to do, Lucy."
The upside would be, at least we'd have a clue as to the genetic disposition of the smallpox the enemy has.
I'm guessing that it's chicken pox. The story keeps referring to kids.
Maybe one reason for a smallpox outbreak is that there are several universities attracting foreign students in Swabi? Maybe the epidemic is really snallpox .... The Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology is said to be one of the best engineering schools in Pakistan.
Just my personal opinion.