[butter pecan fan]

This is true. We are actually prepared for smallpox now, whereas they are not. We have enough vaccine for everyone in the country, so an outbreak could be contained without massive damage. In addition, we generally have far better health care and communications infrastructure than many middle eastern countries.

There is simply no way it wouldn't escape into the Middle East and the Third World (and even if, against all odds, it didn't escape naturally, it would probably be deliberately "escaped" later through the vengeful action of some individual westerner whose family was hit with it). They would be hurt far worse with it than we would be. And as a result, they would likely lose most of the financial and other support they currently have.

[Bon mots]

There is simply no way it wouldn't escape into the Middle East and the Third World (and even if, against all odds, it didn't escape naturally, it would probably be deliberately "escaped" later through the vengeful action of some individual westerner whose family was hit with it)...

You've got that right. If one member of my family even gets sick, my lifelong goal will be to carry as many bugs to Mecca as possible... even if I have to crawl there.