Fun facts:
Ali Maow Maalin was the last person known in the world to naturally get smallpox, occurring in Somali in 1977, he made a full recovery, but is infamous for being the last known person to contract the virus. The process of eradicating smallpox started in 1959, but really took effect in 1960. Most of Africa was free from smallpox by 1972, though it was eradicated everywhere but Ethiopia, Somalia, and the horn of Africa by 1975.
Smallpox had been an issue for over 12,000 years, begging with the ancient Egyptians 10,000 B.C.E. From there, merchants spread it to India. We can distinguish the well known lesions on the faces of mummies, along with Pharaoh Ramses V. The smallpox epidemic was truly recorded in 1350 B.C.E., while in the Egyptian-Hittite War (smallpox over time played a major contribution in many wars).
After September 11, 2001, twenty year old vaccines were made available for the public, however, when anthrax became a severe threat in the United Sates, 150 million more were made as a safety measure.
Smallpox had been an issue for over 12,000 years, begging with the ancient Egyptians 10,000 B.C.E. From there, merchants spread it to India. We can distinguish the well known lesions on the faces of mummies, along with Pharaoh Ramses V. The smallpox epidemic was truly recorded in 1350 B.C.E., while in the Egyptian-Hittite War (smallpox over time played a major contribution in many wars).
After September 11, 2001, twenty year old vaccines were made available for the public, however, when anthrax became a severe threat in the United Sates, 150 million more were made as a safety measure.
Does Smallpox Still Play a Role in the World?
Though smallpox has been eradicated, and no longer occurs in the world, in 1997 it posed a threat when Russia moved their samples, in which the virus could be used in biological warfare. Though people of the 50's-70's had been vaccinated, less then 50% of people today are, therefor another outbreak would reek havoc on the population. America was one of the first to get their hands on the vaccination and to rid themselves of the disease because the United States is a developed first-world country, so smallpox does not, currently, pose a problem for the U.S.
Preparedness Update
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/7/1/70-0155_article
Strengthening National Preparedness for Smallpox: an Update
Because of the fear that Smallpox may be used as a weapon of mass destruction, additional vaccines and vaccine research is underway. Although Smallpox was officially declared eradicated in 1980, the US still has just over 15 million doses available. But, much more would be needed should an attack with weaponized smallpox occurs.
Vaccine Production
In addition to the lack of available vaccines, those which exist are outdated. An agreement has been made assuring increased research and a commitment of a sustained annual production through 2020 to replace the current, outdated vaccines.
Variola Virus Research
Since live virus samples can only be housed in two facilities worldwide, CDC in the United States and the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology in Novosibirsk, Russia it has been established that all work with live variola virus is done under biosafety level 4 containment conditions at CDC.
Strain Evaluation
Since smallpox virus’ contains so many genetic variants, isolates, it is imperative that each isolate is evaluated for its efficacy within the new vaccine strain isolate combination. The new vaccines must address a multitude of issues including efficacy, efficiency and antiviral drug activity.
Serologic Assays
Since technology has improved dramatically since the first vaccines were developed, new serologic assays must be developed to exceed what was, then, necessary.
Nucleic Acid-Based Diagnostics
Again, as technology has become more advanced, scientists are now able to run tests which specifically determine each isolates genetic code, nucleic acids, allowing for further isolation of strains which have higher probabilities for success within the new vaccinations isolate conglomeration.
Animal Models
Since finding an animal model which consistently replicates human smallpox is imperative to the project’s success, finding this model will be most important in the evaluation process. To date, two groups of four cynomolgus macaques have been identified and show great promise.
Conclusion
With the positive results of current research along with the promise of technologically advanced vaccines, the USA, and the entire world, are all better prepared should the worst happen and a weapon of mass destruction be used as a terrorist act of aggression.
Because of the fear that Smallpox may be used as a weapon of mass destruction, additional vaccines and vaccine research is underway. Although Smallpox was officially declared eradicated in 1980, the US still has just over 15 million doses available. But, much more would be needed should an attack with weaponized smallpox occurs.
Vaccine Production
In addition to the lack of available vaccines, those which exist are outdated. An agreement has been made assuring increased research and a commitment of a sustained annual production through 2020 to replace the current, outdated vaccines.
Variola Virus Research
Since live virus samples can only be housed in two facilities worldwide, CDC in the United States and the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology in Novosibirsk, Russia it has been established that all work with live variola virus is done under biosafety level 4 containment conditions at CDC.
Strain Evaluation
Since smallpox virus’ contains so many genetic variants, isolates, it is imperative that each isolate is evaluated for its efficacy within the new vaccine strain isolate combination. The new vaccines must address a multitude of issues including efficacy, efficiency and antiviral drug activity.
Serologic Assays
Since technology has improved dramatically since the first vaccines were developed, new serologic assays must be developed to exceed what was, then, necessary.
Nucleic Acid-Based Diagnostics
Again, as technology has become more advanced, scientists are now able to run tests which specifically determine each isolates genetic code, nucleic acids, allowing for further isolation of strains which have higher probabilities for success within the new vaccinations isolate conglomeration.
Animal Models
Since finding an animal model which consistently replicates human smallpox is imperative to the project’s success, finding this model will be most important in the evaluation process. To date, two groups of four cynomolgus macaques have been identified and show great promise.
Conclusion
With the positive results of current research along with the promise of technologically advanced vaccines, the USA, and the entire world, are all better prepared should the worst happen and a weapon of mass destruction be used as a terrorist act of aggression.