(Army)Soldier Has Reaction to Smallpox Vaccine

Associated Press ^

[RCW2001]

Saturday February 1, 2003 1:30 AM

WASHINGTON (AP) - One soldier inoculated against smallpox has suffered a potentially serious skin reaction to the vaccine, and officials are investigating whether a second ill soldier also is reacting to the shot, the Pentagon said Friday.

It was the first report of any serious reaction to Americans receiving the vaccinations, which began in December for the military and are just now getting under way for civilians.

The first case, a 30-year-old Army soldier at a U.S. base, was a skin reaction called generalized vaccinia, and officials were confident it was linked to the man's vaccination 10 days earlier.

In the second case, a 26-year-old Army soldier was admitted to an overseas military hospital for encephalitis, a brain disease that can cause paralysis or permanent neurological damage. Diagnostic studies could not confirm that his reaction was due to his smallpox vaccination. But he had received the vaccination eight days earlier, and the timing made authorities suspicious. They are investigating further.

Both men now are in good condition, the Pentagon said.

Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr., assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, said the reactions were not surprising.

``We can expect additional reactions to occur; some will be significant reactions,'' he said in a statement.

There has been considerable discussion about the vaccine's risks, which are rare but serious. Experts believe that out of every million people being vaccinated for the first time, between 14 and 52 will face serious, life-threatening reactions, and one or two will die. People who come into close contact with vaccines also can be injured.

The vaccine is made with a live virus called vaccinia, which can escape the inoculation site and infect other parts of the body.

Routine smallpox vaccinations ended in this country in 1972 as the disease was being eradicated from Earth. The last U.S. case was in 1949. But officials fear smallpox could return in an act of bioterrorism, and the military believes its forces, on the cusp of war with Iraq, could face a biological attack.

Vaccinations are voluntary for civilians, but mandatory in the military.

The military has not said how many operational forces it has vaccinated so far, but said the total exceeds tens of thousands. In addition, the Pentagon has vaccinated 3,665 health care workers.

The military vaccinations began in December and include up to a half-million troops in high-risk areas, particularly Southwest Asia.

So far, most of the reactions have been minor, the Pentagon said. Three percent of the people being vaccinated had to take sick leave, with an average length of absence of 1.5 days.

The Defense Department would not release the names or locations of the two people who suffered more serious reactions.

The first case was identified last Saturday. The soldier developed a rash about 10 days after being vaccinated that included several pustules, or pus-filled blisters. The rash appears to be ``generalized vaccinia,'' in which the virus travels through the blood and infects the skin.

Generalized vaccinia can develop into a serious skin condition, but in this case, the soldier is well and continues to work at his normal assignment, the Pentagon said.

The second case was identified Sunday. The soldier's was diagnosed with encephalitis, but since the he has ``markedly improved, is in good condition and is expected to be released from the hospital soon,'' the Pentagon said.

Encephalitis can cause paralysis or permanent neurological damage. Symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting and drowsiness. Based on studies from the 1960s, one person out of every 300,000 vaccinated are expected to come down with this condition.

[Alpha One]

What sort of "medicine" are you on tonight I wonder? Might a visit from the local LEO catch you misbehaving?

[Alpha One]

And I bet you support China as well.

[Indy Pendance]

hmmmmm, alpha one is now beta two?

[sweetliberty]

Issues

Issues has an issue and she wants it to be everyone's issue. The discussion could be about fondue pots and Issue would rage about the multinational corporate conspiracy to exploit fondue pot workers. Of course, Issues is found among all ideological persuasions - anti-gun mothers, gun totin' mothers, bloodthirsty feminists, troglodyte misogynists, politically correct, politically incorrect, lefties, righties, vegetarians, carnivores, radical Rotarians - it doesn't matter. HINT: An effective tactic to employ against Issues is indifference.

[Sabertooth]

I gather you approve of Red China and North Korea? Are you a communist spy, or are you Al Qaeda?

If I was any of the above, one of my tasks might be to spread propaganda and inflame public confidence against smallpox vaccinations, FormerLurker.

Incidentally, isn't that what you're all about, in your various guises?

[dighton]

This is not the most effective way to set up a sleeper account, FFL.

Don't give them no tips or nuthin...................;-)

O what a tangled web we weave
When first we practise to deceive!
But when we've practised quite a while
How vastly we improve our style!

-- J.R. Pope.

[Indy Pendance]

They have a cool kitten viking thing going on.

[longshadow]

As far as trying to tie me with a banned former whatever, go to hell.

Well, here's your opportunity to explain away the AMAZING coincidence of your registering on FR the DAY AFTER FormerLurker was banned, and posting the SAME HYSTERICAL anti-vaccination rubbish he did.

We're all waiting with bated breath for you explanation.

Or, shall we just wait to see if you start posting stuff about Crop-circles, time-travelling space aliens, the mysteries of the number "phi," the usual mumbo-jumbo about "Sacred Geometry," and the EVILS of Fluoridation?

[Indy Pendance]

Jealous. Alpha one is just a 1.

Where as Sabertooth has a graphic of a really cool animal. What the hell is an alpha one beside math or physics symbols....Oh wait, it's a government project............

[Poohbah]

Maybe he's tied in with Moonbase Alpha...

[Indy Pendance]

"From 1942 to 1990, when smallpox inoculations ceased for military personnel, the armed forces did not record a single fatality from the vaccine, records reviewed by The Washington Post show.

Duh. If the vaccine ceased during this time period, obviously, there would not be any fatality if they didn't get it in the first place......LOGIC fails you.

[Indy Pendance]

Did you study the disease? Please, oh, retread, fill us in....

[Indy Pendance]

Whatever it is, I'll bet he would have what ever you're having.

[Alpha One]

If I was any of the above, one of my tasks might be to spread propaganda and inflame public confidence against smallpox vaccinations, FormerLurker.

For one, you are a psycho, I am not who ever it is you are trying to portray me as. I see I've hit a sensitive nerve with the commies that are trying to conquer the United States. You see, I've put out a few feelers as to what topics garnered the most vile attacks. This is the one.

For two, if you had any brains whatsoever, you'd quicky come to the realization that there should be some serious scrutiny concerning the smallpox vaccine, as there is no evidence at all that it has ever worked. Sure, I've read FR for awhile and have seen some of the threads that have stated this information. And I have also noticed that you are one of those that have gone to great lengths to silence any mention of those facts. That is why I think you are an enemy of the United States, and are here on FR as a spy or agitator for a foreign government.

[Indy Pendance]

I know, they really didn't 'land on the moon'...it was all hollywood.......

[Alpha One]

Hey dude, are you shooting up the same stuff as the tiger man?

[Indy Pendance]

" I see I've hit a sensitive nerve with the commies that are trying to conquer the United States"

Ah ahhhhhh, were commies now.

Poohbah, you don't know me, but I've played a poster on FR for a while now. Can you alert your most astute freepers to this specific comment. It's just too precious to not pass up.

[Jim Noble]

How long do you give him?

I'm going to bed. He won't be here when I get up.

Odd, isn't it, that there has not been a natural case of smallpox since 1977?

[Sabertooth]

if you had any brains whatsoever...

...I'd recognize you as FormerLurker, the anti-vaccination crackpot who cardstacks against modern immunology, which has had tremendous benefits for mankind, on the basis of known, rare, and acceptable side-effects.

[longshadow]

Hey dude, are you shooting up the same stuff as the tiger man?

Second request:

Well, here's your opportunity to explain away the AMAZING coincidence of your registering on FR the DAY AFTER FormerLurker was banned, and posting the SAME HYSTERICAL anti-vaccination rubbish he did.

We're all waiting with bated breath for you explanation.

Nice try at changing the subject.... we're still waiting for your explanation.