Generally accepted facts about smallpox:
1. Smallpox is highly contagious and could spread rapidly, killing millions
2. Smallpox can be spread by casual contact with an infected person
3. The death rate from smallpox is thought to be 30%.
FACTS EXPOSED AS MYTHS:
1. Smallpox is not highly contagioius
"The infection is spread by droplet contamination. Coughing and sneezing are not
generally part of the infection. Smallpox will not spread like wildfire."
Walter A. Orenstein, M.D., Director of the CDC's National Immunization Program
(NIP), CDC meeting June 20, 2002
2. Smallpox is spread by casual contact
"Transmission of smallpox occurs only after intense personal contact, defined by
the CDC as constant exposure, occurring within 6-7
feet, for a minimum of 6-7 days." Am. J. Epid. 1971; 91:316-326.
Joel Kuritsky, MD, Director of the National Immunization Program and Early
Smallpox Response and Planning at the CDC states:
3. The deathrate from smallpox is 30%
Case fatality rate in adults was "much lower than generally advertised" and
closer to 10-15% in adults. "Even without mass vaccination, smallpox would have
died out anyway. It just would have taken longer."
Dr. Tom Mack, of USC, reported at the CDC meeting June 20, 2002
-The verbatim transcript of the Meeting of the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices (ACIP) June 19 and 20, 2002 ;
In 1900, 21,064 smallpox cases were reported, and 894 patients died…that is 4.2%
MMWR. Achievements in Public Health, 1900-1999 Impact of Vaccines Universally
Recommended for Children -- United States, 1990-1998 . April 02,
1999/48(12);243-248
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) lists 65 known biological
warfare agents and an infinite number of organisms that can be created through
genetic engineering.
If we vaccinate against smallpox [and anthrax], an enemy could easily pick a
different microorganism for use.
Mack TM. Smallpox in
Europe, 1950-1971.
J Infect Dis. 1972 Feb;125(2):161-9. No abstract available.
PMID: 5007552 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Abstract: "The 49 importations of smallpox into western
countries in the past 20 years are reviewed. Such
importations have been caused, for the most part, by
visiting foreigners or by returning nationals who had
scars from childhood vaccination. When appreciable numbers of
indigenous cases or deaths have resulted, spread in hospitals have been
responsible. Most deaths have been among medical personnel or elderly
patients. The reputation of smallpox as a catastrophic, unpredictable,
and entirely uncontrollable disease seems unwarranted under modern
conditions. Fear of incidents such as these should not be used to
justify a policy of universal vaccination of children."