Smallpox Medical - Epidemiology: Smallpox Term Paper

6). What doctors do know is that the young, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems are far more likely to suffer adverse effects or become contaminated should an epidemic break out. These populations are also far more likely to develop the disease or suffer from side effects of vaccination which may include a heart attack (Annas, 2003).

Many suggest the risk is unknown, because the disease is nearly eradicated, it would take a modern outbreak to ascertain the prognosis of individuals with the disease in modern times. Many feel however, that discourse on the subject is best left unsaid, because the more people discuss the disease, the more likely it is that someone will inadvertently get hold of the disease and attempt to use it.

References

Annas, George J. "Smallpox Vaccine: Not Worth the Risk," the Hastings Center Report, 33.2, 2003. pp.6-9.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2002) Smallpox fact sheet, smallpox overview. Retrieved December 7, 2007: http://www.cdc.gov/smallpox

Giblin, James C. When Plague Strikes: The Black Death, Smallpox, AIDS. New York:

Harper Collins, 1995.

Koplow, David a. Smallpox: The Fight to Eradicate a Global Scourge. University of California Press, Berkeley: 2003.

Mackelprang, Romel, Mackelprang R.D. And Thirkill, Ashley D. "Bioterrorism and Smallpox: Policies, Practices,….....