Why Are People Worried About Smallpox?

Why Are People Worried About Smallpox?Although smallpox infection was wiped out many years ago, some of the variola virus that causes smallpox was saved in laboratories. Because these virus samples exist, there has been concern that terrorists may try to get access to the stored virus with the aim of spreading smallpox infection.
People talk about the possibility of terrorists spreading smallpox as a biological weapon, but the reality is this probably wouldn't happen for a couple of reasons. First, terrorists would need access to the virus samples - and the few research laboratories that keep smallpox have security measures in place to guard it. It would be extremely difficult for a group to take the time to grow and produce enough of the variola virus without being detected.
The other reason it would be difficult for smallpox to spread widely is the vaccine, which can stop smallpox in two ways: First, if a person is vaccinated quickly after exposure to the virus, it can prevent that person from becoming infected. And second, if a person who has been infected with smallpox is vaccinated within a few days, the vaccine can make the illness less severe.
After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the anthrax scare that same year, the U.S. government took the precaution of asking several companies to begin making smallpox vaccine again. Today, there's enough vaccine on hand to protect the American people in the event of a smallpox outbreak.
Public health officials have a rapid response plan in place to vaccinate people who may have been exposed to the disease, as well as people who come into contact with them. So although a person doesn't need to get vaccinated at the moment, the vaccine is there in case it's needed.
Given that the vaccine can stop the spread of the disease, experts believe it's unlikely that terrorists will go to the trouble of producing and using smallpox as a biological weapon - it would take too long and have little effect.