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(First and foremost)

• We will not be vaccinating the general public at this time.
   
• Smallpox vaccinations are not recommended for the general public because the health risks associated with the vaccine are greater than any current known threat from the disease.

Is smallpox a threat?

Smallpox outbreaks have occurred from time to time for thousands of years.  The last case of smallpox in the US occurred in 1949, and the last case in the world occurred in Africa in 1977. The World Health Organization declared that naturally-occurring smallpox infection was eliminated from the world in 1980.

What is smallpox?

Smallpox is a severe infection caused by a virus - the Variola virus. Prior to the discovery of a vaccine in 1796, smallpox infection was common throughout the world.
 

How is smallpox spread?

People may get exposed to smallpox by coming into contact with the droplets of saliva released when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes, or through direct contact with contaminated materials (bedding or clothing). Smallpox is not known to be transmitted by insects or animals.

What are the symptoms? 

Symptoms begin to appear within 7 to 19 days after exposure to the virus. Initial symptoms may include high fever (above 101° F), fatigue, headache and backache. One to four days after the first symptoms, the infected person develops a rash that is most prominent on the face, legs and arms. The rash starts as flat, red lesions; over the next two days, these lesions fill with pus. The lesions begin to form a crust early in the second week of illness, and then develop into scabs. The scabs fall off after three to four weeks.

How long is a person with smallpox contagious?

People with smallpox are not contagious until they develop a rash, which may begin on the skin or in the mouth. They are most infectious during the first week of illness because that is when the largest amount of virus is present in saliva. However, risk of transmission lasts until all scabs have fallen off (approximately three to four weeks).

What treatment is available for smallpox?

Although research continues, there is currently no proven treatment for smallpox. Patients with smallpox can benefit from supportive therapy (intravenous fluids, medicine to control fever or pain) and antibiotics for any secondary bacterial infections. The majority of patients with smallpox recover, but death occurs in up to 30 percent of cases. Smallpox vaccine, if given to people who are exposed to smallpox within four days of exposure, may lessen the severity of the illness or possibly prevent it entirely.
 

What do I do if I have smallpox symptoms?

If you have symptoms, please consult a healthcare provider by phone, immediately. Again, there is no evidence of increased risk of a smallpox outbreak or bioterrorism attack using smallpox, but the United States does maintain an emergency supply of smallpox vaccine. The vaccine is not available to the general public because it presents a significant risk of severe side effects.

Vaccine

Haven’t I already been vaccinated against smallpox?

In the United States, routine vaccination against smallpox stopped in 1972, and was discontinued for military personnel in 1990. Currently, only people who work with similar viruses in laboratories routinely receive smallpox vaccine. The immunity gained from smallpox vaccination is believed to last about 10 years. People who have been vaccinated multiple times may have some protection against infection but, in general, most people in the United States are not immune to smallpox.

Does the vaccine contain smallpox?

The vaccine does not contain the smallpox virus. It contains a related, live virus called vaccinia.

If I receive a smallpox vaccination will I be contagious?

Yes, you will be contagious with the virus used in the vaccine (not smallpox) and it may be necessary to limit your contact with people who may be most at risk of developing serious side effects from the vaccine. These include: people with eczema or certain skin conditions, people with compromised immune systems, and pregnant women. You will be contagious until all sores have healed and the scabs have fallen off.

What are the risks associated with getting a smallpox vaccination?

Although the vaccine does not contain the smallpox virus, it does contain another virus that can be dangerous. Unless there has been an exposure to smallpox, the vaccine should not be given to pregnant women, children under one year of age, people who are allergic to any of the vaccine components, people with eczema or other serious skin conditions, or those with weakened or compromised immune systems.

Side effects from the vaccine may range from pain or fever to encephalitis, serious skin disorders or, in rare cases, death.

What is the chance of having an adverse reaction to the vaccine?

In the past, 250 out of every million people who were vaccinated for the first time experienced adverse reactions to the vaccine. That rate could possibly be higher now because of the increased numbers of people with compromised immune systems.

Death occurs in one of every million first-time smallpox vaccinations.

Can I purchase a vaccination or obtain one from my doctor?

No. The smallpox vaccine is controlled by the federal government through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and is not available to any health care practice for administration to the general public.

Smallpox Response Teams

Under the State plan, Lane County Public Health Services is forming a volunteer team who would investigate reported cases of smallpox, provide access to laboratory analysis and vaccinate those affected.  To ensure that Smallpox Response Teams can mobilize immediately in an emergency, local public health employees, health care workers and other critical personnel will be asked to volunteer to receive the smallpox vaccine.

Websites for further info:

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/index.asp