Smallpox is among the most feared diseases around the world; it is an infectious disease spread through transmission of the valiola vera virus. In its 12,000 years of recorded history, it has been responsible for more human deaths than any other disease and in the 20th century alone, an estimation of 300-500 million people died from the virus (Oddee, 2007). In the present day, there are no uncontained samples of smallpox, with the only two known remaining specimens of various strains held in high security laboratories in Russia and America (Williams, 2014). There is much debate whether or not the samples should be stored for future use, or whether it should be completely eradicated to minimize immediate risk. In this investigation, the ethical …show more content…
It is of one view that simply by containing the virus, there is a risk that the samples could be reintroduced unto the population of the world. Release could be accidental or an act of bioterrorism or warfare, and the only way to be sure that the samples will not be used for destructive purposes is to terminate them. In one poll however, it was found only 14.2% of the general public wanted the virus destroyed immediately, 16.3% wanted the virus to be destroyed at some point in the future, and that 71.4% thought that the virus should not be destroyed at all (Racaniello, …show more content…
This means that scientists could still conduct experiments in regards to smallpox vaccination and treatment without the current living samples. At the same time however, this means that anybody with sufficient materials and knowledge could potentially make the smallpox virus through use of the publicly available genomes, which leaves the general public equally endangered from synthesised strains of the virus (Randerson, 2006). So even if the official samples of smallpox were discontinued, it would not necessarily ensure safety from the
The book is primarily an account of the Smallpox Eradication Program (1967–80), the ongoing perception by the U.S. government that smallpox is still a potential bioterrorism agent, and the controversy over whether or not the remaining samples of smallpox virus in Atlanta and Moscow (the “demon” in the freezer) should be finally destroyed.
In the case of a bioterrorism attack, the US is well prepared for a smallpox emergency and in combating the disease. Also, in the event of an emergency the public health department both state and local would be responsible for working with healthcare facilities to handle the situation in a fast but calmly manner. The different healthcare facilities would rapidly respond by providing the necessary vaccines to help communities and at the same time be able to prevent the spread of the disease. Therefore, despite that smallpox is not considered a public health threat in the U.S, there are researchers who continue to study and research the disease to develop vaccines, drugs, and diagnostic tests to protect communities in case of a bioterrorism attack (CDC,
He brings up concerns about the stockpiles of smallpox posing a threat and the debate between keeping the stockpiles or destroying them. The issues presented in this book are able to be applied to any outbreak, whether it is a virus or a threat of a bioterror weapon. The most provocative question is how smallpox went from eradicated disease to an ideal weapon for bioterrorism. Preston let the question hover over the book as he detailed the Soviet Union’s bioweapons programs, the U.S. Army’s attempts of testing smallpox antiviral drugs on monkeys and the Australians efforts to cross smallpox with mousepox to create “superpox.” The real terror of this Demon is the uncertainty of the smallpox threat, no one knows how big the threat really is nor who has stockpiles of the
The Ruination of Smallpox Diseases have been around since the beginning of time. Some have come and gone without being noticed. Others however, have come and destroyed civilizations. They can do everything from causing a cough to viciously scaring their victims and in the worst cases, even killing them. The worst of all of them is Smallpox.
Smallpox once raged through cities, leaving its victims scarred for life, or dead. But it was put down decades ago. If it were to come back, devastation would surely be imminent. Any remains are under maximum security for this reason. For it to return at the hands of a bioterrorist could be expected, but at the hands of say, a teenage boy, is ridiculous.
It's killed more than prostate cancer and breast cancer fatality rates together. Smallpox was the first disease to be eliminated from the world through public-health efforts and vaccination. Smallpox still poses a threat because existing laboratory strains may be used as biological weapons. Approximately one-third of people with smallpox died from the disease. Survivors were scarred for life. If the eye was infected, blindness often resulted.There are new experimental medications that might be effective in smallpox, but these have not been tested in human cases since the disease has been eradicated.The smallpox vaccine contains a live virus called vaccinia. It is administered by dipping a pronged piece of metal into the vaccine and then pricking the skin.
The history of vaccinations begin with Edward Jenner, the country doctor from Gloucestershire who found, growing on cows, a nearly harmless virus the protected people from smallpox. Jenner’s vaccine was safer, more reliable, and more durable than variolation, and it is still the only vaccine to have eliminated its reason for being-in 1980, when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the disease extinct. For nearly a century and a half, smallpox was the only vaccine routinely administered, and it saved millions of lives . But the controversy that marked the return of the vaccine, amid bioterrorism hysteria in 2002, was only the latest twist in the remarkable, mysterious life of vaccines.
Currently the only existing forms of smallpox are in two secure laboratories; the CDC facility in Atlanta and Russian State Research Centre for Virology and Biotechnology in Koltsovo. These samples were scheduled to be destroyed in 1993 but there was and still is much debate about what should happen to them.
Despite smallpox’s long history of harm, killing nearly 300 million people in the twentieth century alone, it is now considered eradicated thanks to a vaccine and vaccination program lead by the World Health Organization. Because of its eradication,
This Points of View article was written by Eric Badertscher and Rosalyn Carson-Dewitt, a medical doctor and scientific writer, and published in 2016 for Points of View: Smallpox Vaccinations, a section of the Points of View Reference Center. The purpose of this text is to convince the audience consisting of U.S. parents and health legislators that smallpox vaccines should be mandatory due to the threat of biological warfare, but that exceptions should be made for certain groups. Carson-DeWitt is credible because she is a medical doctor and has much experience with medical writing; she was editor-in-chief for two publications. This article was published in 2016 making its argument more relevant to modern-day issues such as bioterrorism and need for vaccines. Also, the accessibility of the publication venue allows for anyone to understand the need for vaccines; readers do not need much prior knowledge because the article itself contains a small background on the issue.
One in Atlanta, Georgia, and the other in Russia. Recently, there has been a debate on whether they should keep the samples to research them for more possible ways to cure smallpox if it ever comes back. The side that says that the samples should be destroyed thinks that they might fall into the wrong hands and could be used in bioterrorism. In the words of the student, Peter Vessey, “I think the samples should be kept in one secure location, and researched in case they were used for evil”. Peter thinks that scientists and governments should agree on one safe place for the samples and secure them with whatever they can. Peter says, “I do not think smallpox will come back naturally any time soon, but they should keep the samples so people can research cures for other diseases of the same
Millions of deaths were caused by smallpox through the 20th century. Catching smallpox was easy as catching a cold. A piece of cloth, blood, etc could all be fatal. In 1796 physician Edward Jenner discovered the first working vaccine to cure smallpox. Jenner placed cowpox into a boys arm. He later introduced the smallpox virus to the boy and he didn't fall ill with the disease.
Immunizations were created to keep children and adults healthy and safe. Edward Jenner administered the world’s first vaccination known as the smallpox vaccine, which had killed millions of people over the centuries (). Jenner administered the vaccine on an eight year old boy who he exposed to the fluid of a cowpox blisters, the boy developed a blister which eventually went away. Jenner then exposed the boy to the smallpox disease and the boy did not get sick, this led to the smallpox vaccine and the drastic decline in the smallpox disease. Fast-forward three centuries later and the small pox diseases is eradicated do to people receiving the vaccine. Immunizations are extremely important to the world’s overall health. Babies and children are most vulnerable to disease because they are son young and their organs and bodies are growing at a rapid rate. It is important for children to be immunized against vaccine preventable diseases such as: rubella, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough), and a host of other diseases. High vaccination coverage has significantly reduced vaccine-preventable disease morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially among children (Baggs et. al., 2011). While some people focus on the cons of vaccinations, there are many pros to children receiving vaccinations.
When Dr. Jenner introduced the smallpox vaccine he was met with as much condemnation as he was with praise, “ministers thundered against tampering with the Lord’s grand design. The economist Thomas Malthus worried that vaccines would lead to dangerous population increases” (Oshinsky). After all the years, the arguments against Dr. Jenner’s work have become obsolete yet the crusade against vaccines still wages on wielding new arguments. The recent revival of the anti-vaccination movement came about during 1990s, “the movement…had less to do with fears of personal liberties being deprived than with claims of a link between vaccines and various afflictions, especially autism. It hardly mattered that study after study would refute this junk science” (Oshinsky). This controversy holds elements of morality, politics and ethical issues, but is not limited to those arguments. Elements of the destruction of personal liberties
Imagine a quick spreading rash throughout the entire body, leaving not a single space behind; every opening and crevice in your body, including your mouth and eyes covered in painful bumps accompanied by high fever and severe body aches. Flat red spots transforming into fluid-filled lesions and soon oozing out yellow pus, evidently emitting a pungent odor to anyone who dared get close. The live virus present in the darkening crusty scabs that would soon fall off only to leave behind a deep pitted scarred filled complexion on anyone who was fortunate enough to survive. These scars would be forever remembered as the hallmark for the smallpox epidemic which tormented the world for over 3,000 years. (Riedel “Deadly Diseases”).