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Smallpox |
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Smallpox as a
Bioweapon |
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Although naturally occurring smallpox has been eradicated, there is still
heightened concern that the variola virus might be used as an agent of
bioterrorism. In the first documented case of biological warfare, in the 18th
century, contaminated blankets used by smallpox patients were distributed among
Native American Indians by the British with the intent of initiating outbreaks.
A smallpox epidemic occurred, killing more than 50% of affected tribes. If a
strain of the variola virus could be obtained, it could be manufactured easily
and disseminated widely in an aerosol release. A release of smallpox could
escalate to a catastrophic global epidemic unless effective control measures can
be implemented quickly.
Smallpox has been identified by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as a
"Category A" agent, meaning it has been given high priority due to its potential
threat to national security. The following references provide information on the
use of smallpox as a bioweapon and associated issues to be considered during a
smallpox outbreak.
- Emergency Preparedness & Response: Smallpox.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Contains extensive
smallpox information, including fact sheets, overviews, FAQs, diagnosis and
evaluation, infection control, laboratory testing, surveillance and
investigation, selected publications, and education and training materials.
- Inglesby, Thomas V., et al. "Smallpox as a Biological Weapon: Medical and Public Health Management."
Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) 281.22(1999, June 9):
2281-2290. Considers the prospect of an aerosol release of variola virus, and provides information on epidemiology, infection signs and
symptoms, diagnosis and monitoring, vaccination, medical treatment, infection
control, environmental decontamination, and more.
- Textbook of Military Medicine: Medical Aspects of
Chemical and Biological Warfare: Chapter 27 - Smallpox. Office of the
Surgeon General, Department of the Army, (1997), 114 KB
PDF, 21 pages. Provides a thorough review of smallpox, including its
history and epidemiology, as well as biological warfare and clinical issues.
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USAMRIID's Medical Management of Biological Casualties Handbook, Fifth Edition.
US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), (2004,
August). Provides links to PDF documents that contain information from this
publication, known as the "Bluebook", and recommendations regarding medical
response to a biological warfare attack on a civilian or military population.
Specific information on a number of potential bioterrorist agents is supplied,
including smallpox.
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Variola major (Smallpox): Bioterrorism Information and Resources.
Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). Includes a comprehensive
clinical manual on smallpox, as well as other documents and resources.
- BW Agents: Smallpox. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Center
for Biosecurity, (2005). Provides links to fact sheets, FAQs, and other
references.
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Smallpox. Saint Louis University
(SLU), School of Public Health, Institute for
Bio-Security. Provides links to quick reference material, education and
training resources, news and journal articles, and other documents on
smallpox.
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Smallpox and Bioterrorism. Michigan Department of Community Health,
Bureau of Epidemiology, Division of Communicable Disease and Immunization, 118
KB
PDF, 2 pages. Covers key facts related to smallpox and bioterrorism,
including disease facts, risk, and treatment.
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Variola Virus (Smallpox).
Texas Department of Health. Provides information on symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
available in the event smallpox virus is used as a bioterrorist weapon.
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