squan at ix.netcom.com (Steve Quan) wrote:
>> Ok,ok I'm just your average layman with an interest in teeny tiny
> bugs. I feel stupid asking, but here goes. Can anyone tell me WHY
> small pox is no longer a threat? I understand about the eradication
> campaign and that the last case was reported sometime in the late 70's.
> Isn't the bug itself still out there somewhere (besides the stuff in
> deep freeze)? How do they know it's gone? If answers would be too long
> for this post can anyone recommend a book? Pardon my ignorance and
> thanks.
This isn't an answer, but I thought while someone brought this topic up, I'd
ask my own questions. From what I've heard, smallpox really isn't much of a threat
anymore, thanks to widespread vaccination programs. However, recently some
people have become concerned that, since smallpox *isn't* a threat anymore,
people aren't (generally) being vaccinated against it anymore, and there is always
the possibility of an "escape" of the virus from a lab is always there. I guess I
just wanted to hear some people's opinions this issue.
Sorry about the artificial line breaks. New newsreader.
- Tisha/Ellis/Spam
spam at millcomm.com
