If Youve Already Had Smallpox Can You Get It Again
Oftentimes Asked Questions
What is smallpox and what
should I know nigh it?
How common is smallpox?
The disease was declared eradicated from the World in 1980 following a worldwide vaccination plan. The last naturally caused case of smallpox in the earth occurred in 1977 in Somalia. The last instance in the Usa was in 1949 and the last cases in Illinois were recorded in 1947. All known variola virus stocks are held frozen in secure facilities at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and at a state inquiry center in Russia.
Why should I exist concerned nigh smallpox?
At this time, there is no evidence of an imminent threat that terrorists might use smallpox as a biological weapon. Nevertheless, the events of September and October 2001 heightened awareness of the possibility of deliberate terrorist attacks that could include smallpox or other biological agents. Considering of the potential that cloak-and-dagger stockpiles of smallpox might exist in other countries and could fall into the hands of terrorists, it is important that the American people are protected confronting the threat of a smallpox attack and that health care workers and others are familiar with the clinical features of the illness. While the possibility of an intentional release of smallpox virus is low, the consequences of an outbreak would be keen.
Is there a vaccine for smallpox?
Yes. The vaccine is made from a live virus related to smallpox that helps the body develop immunity to smallpox. The vaccine does non contain smallpox virus and cannot spread the disease. The regime reserve of vaccine, which was produced in the 1970s, is sufficient to inoculate every American in the event of a smallpox attack. Production of a new smallpox vaccine is underway and is expected to be bachelor past 2004. Routine vaccinations in the U.S. were discontinued in 1972 because it was no longer necessary for prevention.
Are smallpox vaccinations going to resume?
President George W. Bush recently unveiled a plan to immediately begin to vaccinate 500,000 armed forces personnel who may be deployed in high threat areas. In addition, starting time in 2003, the vaccine will exist offered to as many equally 10 one thousand thousand civilian public wellness and infirmary workers, including x,000 in Illinois, who volition brand up special smallpox response teams. A second phase, starting in the leap of 2003, includes offering the vaccine to all hospital workers not included in the first phase and to outset responders (firefighters, police force officers and emergency medical service personnel). A tertiary phase, offset sometime in 2003, would make the vaccine available to the general public.
What will the public health response teams practise?
These individuals would investigate and evaluate suspected cases of smallpox and initiate measures to control an outbreak. Public health personnel at the state, regional and local levels would investigate/command a possible or actual smallpox case or outbreak, or would exist available to vaccinate others. The hospital workers who course health care teams would diagnose and treat possible or actual cases of smallpox. Participation on these teams and in the vaccination program is voluntary.
Why can't the public get the vaccine?
While it has been strongly recommended that the public not seek the vaccination at present, because there is no imminent danger of a smallpox attack, President Bush has said plans are existence formulated to accommodate those adult members of the public who insist on being vaccinated.
How safe is the smallpox vaccine?
The smallpox vaccine is the all-time protection you tin become if you are exposed to the smallpox virus. Nevertheless, without testify of an actual case of smallpox, the vaccine is not recommended because it does have serious side effects. Based on information from 1968 when the vaccine was widely given, federal wellness authorities have predicted that, for every million people vaccinated, one or ii people may dice from the vaccination, 14 to 52 would experience life-threatening reactions and about 1,000 would develop serious, only not life-threatening, reactions. In addition, the vaccine requires a series of pricks that create an open sore and, until the sore forms a scab, the vaccinia virus can spread and cause infection in the person who received the vaccine or in family members and other close contacts.
Are there other less serious side furnishings to the vaccine?
Yes. Upward to 20 percent experience headache, fatigue, muscle aches, pain or chills after smallpox vaccination, usually nigh eight to 12 days afterwards. Some individuals may have rashes that final two to four days. These side effects are usually temporary and go abroad on their own or with minimal medical treatment, such as aspirin and balance.
Are in that location people who should NOT get the vaccination?
Some people are at greater run a risk for serious side effects from the smallpox vaccine and those who take any of the following weather, or live with someone who does, should Non receive the smallpox vaccine unless they take been exposed to the smallpox virus.
- Eczema or atopic dermatitis (This is truthful even if the status is mild or not currently active, or if it was experienced equally a child.)
- Peel weather condition such as burns, chickenpox, shingles, impetigo, herpes, astringent acne or psoriasis (People with any of these conditions should not get the vaccine until they have completely healed.)
- Weakened immune arrangement (Cancer treatment, an organ transplant, HIV/AIDS or medications, such equally steroids, to treat autoimmune disorders and other illnesses can weaken the immune system.)
- Pregnancy or plans to become pregnant inside one month of vaccination
In addition, individuals should not get the smallpox vaccine if they are allergic to the vaccine or any of its ingredients, are younger than 12 months of age, have a moderate or astringent curt-term illness (these people should wait until they are completely recovered) or are currently breastfeeding.
As a precautionary step, if you accept been diagnosed by a medico as having a centre condition with or without symptoms you should Non become the smallpox vaccine at this time while experts continue their investigations. These include conditions such as:
- known coronary illness including:
- previous myocardial infarction (eye attack)
- angina (breast pain caused by lack of blood flow to the middle) - congestive heart failure
- cardiomyopathy (eye muscle becomes inflamed and doesn't piece of work as well every bit it should)
- stroke or transient ischemic attack (a "mini-stroke" that produces stroke-like symptoms just no lasting damage)
- chest pain or shortness of jiff with activeness (such as walking up stairs)
- other heart conditions under the care of a physician
In addition, you should Not get the smallpox vaccine if yous have 3 or more than of the following risk factors:
- You take been told by a medico that you have loftier blood pressure.
- Y'all have been told by a doctor that you have high blood cholesterol.
- You have been told past a dr. that you take diabetes or loftier blood sugar.
- You have a first degree relative (for instance mother, father, brother, or sister) who had a heart condition before the age of 50.
- You fume cigarettes now.
These may be temporary exclusions and may change as more than information is gathered.
The presence of these atmospheric condition in a close contact (such every bit people you lot live with) is not a reason for you to defer vaccination.
Every person volunteering to receive the smallpox vaccine will be asked detailed questions regarding his/her medical history and physical health.
How is the vaccine given?
The smallpox vaccine is not given with a hypodermic needle and is not a "shot" similar many vaccinations given today. The vaccine is delivered using a bifurcated (two-pronged) needle that is dipped into the vaccine solution. When removed, the needle retains a droplet of the vaccine. The needle is so used to quickly prick the skin about 15 times in a few seconds. The pricking is not deep, but it volition cause a sore spot and one or ii drops of blood to form. The vaccine is usually given in the upper arm, but tin can be given in the upper thigh.
If successful, a red and itchy bump develops at the vaccination site in three or four days. In the starting time week after vaccination, the bump becomes a large blister, fills with pus and begins to drain. During calendar week 2, the blister begins to dry up and a scab forms. The scab falls off in the third week, leaving a small scar. People who are being vaccinated for the first time may have a stronger successful reaction than those who are being revaccinated.
Are people who were vaccinated in the past protected against smallpox?
The level of immunity, if whatever, among persons who were vaccinated before 1972, when routine vaccination against smallpox ended, is uncertain. About half of the U.Southward. population has been vaccinated and may have partial immunity at all-time. Immunity can be boosted finer with a single revaccination. Prior infection with the disease results in lifelong amnesty.
How long does a smallpox vaccination concluding?
Past experience indicates the starting time dose of the vaccine offers protection from smallpox for three to five years, with decreasing amnesty thereafter. If a person is vaccinated again later, immunity lasts longer.
Is it possible to get smallpox from the vaccination?
No, smallpox vaccine does not contain the smallpox virus. Another related live virus, called vaccinia virus, is used in the vaccine to provide amnesty.
Can you get vaccinia from the vaccination?
Because the vaccinia virus is alive, information technology can spread to other parts of the body or to other people from the vaccine site. It is spread by touching the vaccination site earlier information technology has healed or by touching bandages or vesture that have go contaminated with alive virus from the vaccination site. Vaccinia is not spread through the air. To prevent the spread of vaccinia, don't affect the vaccination site or materials that touched information technology. If you do touch the site or materials that have been in contact with the site, wash your hands right abroad. Don't let others impact your vaccination site or materials that accept touched information technology.
What are the symptoms of vaccinia?
Symptoms may include rash, fever, and head and torso aches.
If you are exposed to smallpox, is information technology likewise tardily to become a vaccination?
Vaccination within 3 days of exposure volition completely prevent or significantly modify smallpox in the vast bulk of persons. Vaccination four to seven days after exposure probable offers some protection from the disease or may moderate the disease's severity.
If someone receives the vaccine at present, will they demand to be revaccinated if at that place is an attack?
In a post-attack emergency, to ensure anybody is protected as chop-chop as possible, all exposed persons will exist vaccinated regardless of smallpox vaccine history.
Who would go smallpox vaccine in the event of an bodily smallpox attack?
Anyone directly exposed to the smallpox virus should get the vaccine, regardless of their wellness status, because a negative reaction to the vaccine would be less severe than developing smallpox. Illinois public health officials, working with federal health government, take developed a plan to vaccinate everyone in the country in the event of smallpox outbreak. At that place is enough smallpox vaccine to vaccinate everyone who would need information technology in the event of an emergency.
How is smallpox transmitted?
In well-nigh cases, smallpox is spread by an ill person to others through infectious saliva droplets. Generally, direct and adequately prolonged face-to-confront contact is required to spread smallpox from one person to some other. People with smallpox are most infectious during the starting time week of illness because that is when the largest amount of virus is present in saliva. However, some run a risk of transmission lasts until the disappearance of all scabs. Contaminated clothing or bed linen also could spread the virus. Special precautions need to be taken to ensure all bedding and clothing of those infected are cleaned accordingly with bleach and hot water. Disinfectants such as bleach can be used for cleaning contaminated surfaces.
If used in biowarfare, smallpox virus could exist dispersed in the air and potential victims in the surface area of the release would breathe in the virus, or infected persons could exist sent into a crowded area to attempt to spread the disease to others. If an droplets release of smallpox occurs, xc percentage of the virus will be inactivated or dissipated in virtually 24 hours. Smallpox is not known to exist transmitted by insects or animals.
What are the symptoms of smallpox?
Incubation menstruum (elapsing 7-17 days; not contagious) Post-obit exposure to the virus, there is an incubation period of virtually 12 days during which a person normally feels fine.
Initial symptoms (prodrome) (elapsing ii-iv days; sometimes contagious) The get-go symptoms of smallpox to emerge are fever (101 degrees F to 104 degrees F), angst, caput and trunk aches and, sometimes, vomiting.
Early on rash (duration almost iv days; near contagious) A rash begins to start emerge as small red spots on the tongue and in the oral fissure. These spots develop into sores that break open and spread large amounts of virus into the mouth and throat. The person becomes contagious at this signal.
Equally the sores in the mouth begin to break downward, a rash appears on the pare, starting on the face and spreading to the arms and legs so to the hands and feet. Commonly the rash spreads to all parts of the body within 24 hours. As the rash appears, the fever usually falls and the person may outset to feel ameliorate.
By the third twenty-four hours, the rash becomes raised bumps. By the fourth day, the bumps fill with a thick, opaque fluid and ofttimes accept a depression in the center that resembles a navel. (This is a major distinguishing characteristic of smallpox.) Fever often volition ascent over again at this time and remain high until scabs form over the bumps.
Pustular rash (duration about 5 days; contagious) The bumps become pustules – sharply raised, usually round and firm to the touch as if there's a modest round object (for example, a BB pellet) under the skin.
Pustules and scabs (duration about five days; contagious) The pustules brainstorm to form a crust and so a scab. By the stop of the second calendar week later the rash appears, most of the sores volition have scabbed over.
Resolving scabs (duration virtually half-dozen days; contagious) The scabs begin to fall off, leaving marks on the skins that eventually become pitted scars. Most scabs will have fallen off three weeks later on the rash appears. The person is contagious until all the scabs have fallen off.
Scabs resolved (not contagious) Scabs have fallen off and the person is no longer contagious.
If someone has a rash, how do y'all make up one's mind if it is smallpox or chickenpox?
Chickenpox is mostly a balmy illness characterized by a slight fever, itchy bumps that turn into blisters and some generalized discomfort. A patient with smallpox is very ill, has a high temperature and, often, is unable to even rise from bed.
Is smallpox fatal?
The majority of patients with smallpox recover, but expiry may occur in upwardly to 30 percentage of cases.
Is in that location a treatment for smallpox?
There is no proven treatment for smallpox, but research to evaluate new antiviral agents is ongoing. Patients with smallpox can benefit from supportive therapy (intravenous fluids, medicine to control fever or hurting, etc.) and antibiotics for any secondary bacterial infections that occur.
If someone comes down with smallpox, how tin can the spread of the disease exist stopped?
In the unlikely event that smallpox is reintroduced, the public wellness system would be mobilized to trace all known contacts of the infected person and vaccinate them to foreclose more than cases of smallpox from developing. Yous tin avoid getting the disease by avoiding contact with people who take the affliction. Because a person can spread smallpox from the time he or she develops a rash until the rash has completely healed, these patients should be placed in medical isolation and then they will not continue to spread the virus. In addition, people who have come up into close contact with smallpox patients should be vaccinated immediately and closely watched for symptoms of the disease. Vaccination and isolation are the strategies to terminate the spread of smallpox.
If smallpox is discovered or released in a building, how can that expanse exist decontaminated?
The smallpox virus is fragile. In the event of an droplets release of smallpox, all virus will be inactivated or dissipated inside i to two days. Buildings exposed to the initial droplets release of the virus exercise not demand to be decontaminated. By the time the starting time cases are identified, typically two weeks later on the release, the virus in the edifice will exist gone. Infected patients, even so, will be capable of spreading the virus and possibly contaminating surfaces while they are sick. Therefore, standard hospital-class disinfectants, which are effective in killing the virus on surfaces, should be used for disinfecting hospitalized patients' rooms or other contaminated surfaces.
What should people do if they suspect someone with smallpox or suspect that smallpox has been released in their area?
Report suspect cases of smallpox immediately to your local health department or to the Illinois Department of Public Health. If you believe there has been an intentional release of smallpox virus, as well contact your local law enforcement bureau.
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Source: http://www.idph.state.il.us/Bioterrorism/smallpoxfctsht.htm
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