Smallpox Charlotte McKinley Jessica Midence Izabella Messina.

Smallpox

Charlotte McKinley

Jessica Midence

Izabella Messina

Smallpox is a serious, contagious and sometimes fatal disease.

There is no specific treatment for smallpox, and the only prevention is vaccination.

The name smallpox is derived from the latin word “spotted” and refers to the raised bumps that appear on the face and body of an infected person.

Smallpox is in the Orthopoxvirus genus of viruses.

Smallpox

Origin of Smallpox

The name Variola was first used in the 6th century. Derived from the Latin word varius (spotted) or varus (pimple).

Anglo-Saxons in the 10th century used the word poc or pocca (bag or pouch) to describe an exanthemous disease, possibly smallpox.

In the 15th century, the English used the prefix small to distinguish variola the smallpox from syphilis, the great pox.

First Case of Smallpox

There is no animal reservoir, and no human carriers.

First certain evidence comes from the mummified remains of Ramses. (1157 B.C.)

Written descriptions did not appear until the 10th century in Southwestern Asia.

Smallpox Travel

Smallpox was likely carried from Egyptian traders to India during the millennium B.C. where it became established as an endemic infection.

Epidemics of the disease can be found in the bible, and in ancient Greek and Roman literature.

From Asia and Africa smallpox spread with increasing frequency into less populous areas, and then into Europe.

Smallpox in the Ancient World Peloponnesian Wars (430 B.C.) Thucydides recorded smallpox symptoms. A person aboard a ship from North Africa came to

Athens infected with smallpox. Described as violent heats, unnatural, putrid odors,

stomach distress, and the body covered with small pustules and ulcers.

Also noted that those who survived became immune.

Smallpox in the New World

In the early 16th century smallpox began to imported into the western hemisphere.

The Spanish inadvertently owe success in conquering the Aztec and Incas in Mexico to smallpox.

Smallpox arrived in North America via Canada, and Mexico.

Smallpox as Biological Warfare Lord Jeffrey Amherst, Commanding General

of British Forces in North America during the French and Indian War. (1754-1763)

Used blankets (smallpox blankets) coated with smallpox dust as germ warfare to wipe out the Native American population.

History of Variolation and Vaccine Known that survivors became immune to the

disease. As a result, physicians intentionally infected healthy

persons with smallpox organisms. Variolation is the act of taking samples (pus from

pustules or ground scabs) from patients whose disease had been benign, and introducing it into others through the nose or skin.

Survival Rates with Variolation Two to Three percent of variolated persons died of

smallpox, became the source of a new epidemic, or developed other illnesses from the lymph of the donor such as tuberculosis or syphilis.

The case fatality rates were still ten times lower in those that were variolated compared to those with naturally occurring smallpox.

Side effects of variolation were the appearance of smallpox itself, but it would disappear after a week or so.

Variolation in the New World

Reached the New World in 1721. Used to stop the epidemic in Boston. In 1766 American Soldiers under George

Washington were unable to take Quebec from the English because of smallpox.

Smallpox was apparently one of the main causes of the preservation of Canada in the British Empire.

In 1777 Washington had all of his soldiers variolated beginning with new military operations.

Cows, Milkmaids, and the Pox In rural areas of Europe it was known the milkmaids

became immune to smallpox after developing smallpox

1774, farmer Benjamin Jesty was the first to vaccinate his wife and kids with material taken from the utters of cows.

1791, school teacher Peter Plett vaccinated his students with material from the utters of cows.

Edward Jenner

Edward Jenner

Studied to become a physician in England. In May of 1776 dairymaid Sarah Nelmes consulted

Jenner about a rash on her hand. He took this opportunity to test the protective

properties of cowpox against smallpox. Determined that cowpox can be passed from person

to person as well as from cow to person. The next step was to see if the cowpox would

protect the patient from smallpox.

Edward Jenner

Jenner published the data collected in 1798. However, Jenner’s technique did not catch on as

anticipated. After more and more people were becoming

immune to smallpox vis a vis cowpox it became accepted as the way of the future.

In 1840 variolation was forbidden by an Act of Parliament.

In England vaccination with cowpox became compulsory in 1853.

Edward Jenner

Jenner spent his time supplying cowpox material to others around the world.

In recognition of his work the British government awarded Jenner ten thousand pounds in 1802, and twenty thousand pounds in 1807.

Jenner was honored for his technique, and vaccine became the universally used term to indicate introducing material under the skin to produce a protection against disease.

Eradication

In 1801 Jenner said, “The annihilation of the smallpox, the most dreadful scourge of the human species, must be the final result of this practice.”

Compulsory vaccinations began in the following years:

1807 in Bavaria 1810 in Denmark 1835 in Prussia 1853 in Britain

Eradication

Even after vaccination outbreaks still continued because the virus was imported by travelers where there were still endemics.

Not until after WWI did most of Europe become smallpox free, and not until after WWII was transmission stopped throughout Europe and North America.

In less developed countries smallpox continued largely unabated until the middle of the 20th century.

Eradication

1940s: large scale preparations of a stable freeze dried vaccine was perfected by Collier.

1950: Pan American Sanitary Organization decided to undertake a hemisphere wide eradication program.

1958: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics proposed to the WHO that a global smallpox eradication program be undertaken.

Eradication

The campaign was based on a two fold strategy.

1) Mass vaccination campaigns in each country using a vaccine of ensured potency and stability that would reach at least 80% of the population.

2)Development of a system to detect and contain cases and outbreaks.

Eradication

26 October 1977 the last naturally occurring case of smallpox was recorded in Merka Somalia.

In 1978 two cases were reported. These were both from people working in labs with smallpox in England.

Eradication

1980: WHO formally declared that smallpox was dead.

The eradication of smallpox was one of the most important branches of modern medicine.

Jenner has been acknowledged as the father of immunology,

TAXONOMYTAXONOMY

FAMILY: FAMILY: POXVIRIDAEPOXVIRIDAE

1.1. SUBFAMILY: SUBFAMILY: CHORDOPOXVIRINAE CHORDOPOXVIRINAE (infect vertebrates)(infect vertebrates)

GENERA: GENERA: ORTHOPOXVIRUS (variola, vaccinia, cowpox, monkeypox)ORTHOPOXVIRUS (variola, vaccinia, cowpox, monkeypox) AVIPOXVIRUS (fowlpox)AVIPOXVIRUS (fowlpox)

CAPRIPOXVIRUS (sheep-pox)CAPRIPOXVIRUS (sheep-pox)

LEPORIPOXVIRUS (myxoma)LEPORIPOXVIRUS (myxoma)

PARAPOXVIRUS (milker’s nodule)PARAPOXVIRUS (milker’s nodule)

SULPOXVIRUS (swinepox)SULPOXVIRUS (swinepox)

2. SUBFAMILY: 2. SUBFAMILY: ENTOMOPOXVIRINAEENTOMOPOXVIRINAE (infect arthropods) (infect arthropods)

Species of the Genus Orthopoxvirus

Species Animals Infected Host Range Geographic Range

Variola Human Narrow Formerly worldwide

Vaccinia Human,a cow, pig, buffalo, rabbit, etc.

Broad Worldwideb

Cowpox Rodent,a cow, human, cat, etc. Broad Europe

Monkeypox Squirrel,a monkey, ape, human Broad Western and central Africa

Ectromelia Mouse, mole Narrow Europe

Camelpox Camel Narrow Africa and Asia

Taterapox Gerbil Narrow Western Africa

Volepox Vole ? United States

Raccoonpox Raccoon ? United States

Skunkpox Skunk ? United States

Uasin Gishu Horse Medium Eastern Africa

aPrimary host.bSecondary to vaccination; no known natural host.

http://books.nap.edu/html/variola_virus/ch2.html#TopOfPage

CHARACTERISTICS SHARED BYCHARACTERISTICS SHARED BYSPECIES OFSPECIES OF ORTHOPOXVIRUS ORTHOPOXVIRUS ::

- - The largest and most complex virusesThe largest and most complex viruses- Virons particles can be seen with a light microscopeVirons particles can be seen with a light microscope

- They contain a linear genome of a single- They contain a linear genome of a single double-stranded DNA double-stranded DNA - They replicate in the cytoplasm of the host cell, They replicate in the cytoplasm of the host cell, therefore they must provide their own mRNA and therefore they must provide their own mRNA and DNA synthetic machineryDNA synthetic machinery (including DNA-dependent RNA polymerase)(including DNA-dependent RNA polymerase)

- Inclucison bodies: type B and type A- Inclucison bodies: type B and type A- Virions have a brick-like shape and are present inVirions have a brick-like shape and are present in 2 forms, both are infectious:2 forms, both are infectious: 1. EEV (Extracellular Enveloped Virus)1. EEV (Extracellular Enveloped Virus) 2. IMV (Intracellular Mature Virus)2. IMV (Intracellular Mature Virus)

- Serological cross-reactivitySerological cross-reactivity- Produce a hemagglutininin antigen (HA)- Produce a hemagglutininin antigen (HA)- Vaccinia is the most intensively studied member of - Vaccinia is the most intensively studied member of the poxvirus familythe poxvirus family

Fenner,F. et al. Smallpox and Its Eradiction. Genevea, Switzerland:WHO. 1998:1460

MORPHOLOGY OF THE VIRIONMORPHOLOGY OF THE VIRION

- have an brick-like shape; dimensions 400x200nm- have an brick-like shape; dimensions 400x200nm - four major elements:- four major elements:

1. core ( 9 nm thick membrane, biconcave disk,1. core ( 9 nm thick membrane, biconcave disk, a tightly compressed nucleoprotein)a tightly compressed nucleoprotein) 2. lateral bodies ( unknown function)2. lateral bodies ( unknown function) 3. outer membrane ( a protein shell 12nm thick,3. outer membrane ( a protein shell 12nm thick, the surface consists of irregularly arranged tubules)the surface consists of irregularly arranged tubules) 4. envelope ( an inconstant element, 4. envelope ( an inconstant element, proteins are glycosylated and acylated)proteins are glycosylated and acylated)

- Virons are present in two infectious forms:- Virons are present in two infectious forms: 1. EEV (Extracellular Enveloped Virus)- released from 1. EEV (Extracellular Enveloped Virus)- released from cells spontaneously, by exocytoses are enclosed withincells spontaneously, by exocytoses are enclosed within a lipoprotein envelope, which contains the haemagglutinina lipoprotein envelope, which contains the haemagglutinin and other specific polypeptidesand other specific polypeptides - CEV (Cell Associated Enveloped Virus)- CEV (Cell Associated Enveloped Virus) 2. IMV (Intracellular Mature Virus) – released by2. IMV (Intracellular Mature Virus) – released by cellular disruption, lacks envelope, “naked virus”cellular disruption, lacks envelope, “naked virus”

VacciniaVaccinia Virus – Electron micrographsVirus – Electron micrographs

A. Non- enveloped virion (surface of outer membrane with tubular elements)C. Thin section of non-enveloped virion (biconcave core)B. Enveloped virion, found in extracellular mediumD. Viral core, released after treatment of virions with Nonidet


VIRAL REPLICATION – CELL CYCLEVIRAL REPLICATION – CELL CYCLE


VIRAL REPLICATION – CELL CYCLEVIRAL REPLICATION – CELL CYCLE

http://www.rkm.com.au/VIRUS/SMALLPOX/smallpox-life-cycle.html

CELLULAR CHANGESCELLULAR CHANGES

“Viral factory” visualized in stained cells as the B-type inclusion body, is first seen at 2.5hcupules first appear at 4 hours and some arecompleted as immature particles 6-8hours.From 8 hours onwards mature particles appear.

“Toxic”changes may occur in the inf.cells, which inmonolayer cultures become rounded and retractfrom each other.


Cytoplasmic inclusion bodies in infected cellsCytoplasmic inclusion bodies in infected cells

B-typeB-type (Guarnieri bodiesGuarnieri bodies)- sites of viral replication produced by all orhopoxvirusesA-typeA-type – strongly eosinophilic, found in cells infected with: cowpox,ectromelia and raccoonpox virus; appear late in the infection and are not associated with viral replication (may contain mature virions) Fenner,F. et al. Smallpox and Its Eradiction. Genevea, Switzerland:WHO. 1998:1460

STRUCTURE OF THE VIRAL GENOME STRUCTURE OF THE VIRAL GENOME

- Schemat of vaccinia virus DNA

- Contains a single linear molecule of a double stranded DNA - Contains a single linear molecule of a double stranded DNA About 200 kbp long; guanine+cytosine content 36%About 200 kbp long; guanine+cytosine content 36%- when denatured the two sister strands form a large single-stranded circular molecule, - when denatured the two sister strands form a large single-stranded circular molecule, being attached at each end of the genome by covalent linksbeing attached at each end of the genome by covalent links

- for the most part, the DNA sequences in the central part of the genome are unique,- for the most part, the DNA sequences in the central part of the genome are unique,but the terminal fragments (inverted terminal repeats) cross-hybridize with each otherbut the terminal fragments (inverted terminal repeats) cross-hybridize with each otherand with the termini of other species of orthopoxvirus and with the termini of other species of orthopoxvirus

- The ITR’s include: an A+T-rich, incompletely base-paired, hairpin loop that connects the- The ITR’s include: an A+T-rich, incompletely base-paired, hairpin loop that connects the two DNA strands; set of short tandemly repeated sequences. The ITR’s are variable intwo DNA strands; set of short tandemly repeated sequences. The ITR’s are variable in length owing to deletions, repetitions, and transpositionslength owing to deletions, repetitions, and transpositions

- - Inverted repeats in vaccinia are 10 kbp longInverted repeats in vaccinia are 10 kbp long in variola are 725 bpin variola are 725 bp- Variola vs. Vaccinia: genomes are highly conserved with >95% nucleotide identity,- Variola vs. Vaccinia: genomes are highly conserved with >95% nucleotide identity, however towards the termini the sequences divergehowever towards the termini the sequences diverge Poxviruses that have been inactivated that don’t damage their DNA Poxviruses that have been inactivated that don’t damage their DNA can be reactivatedcan be reactivated

-Encodes about 200 proteins-The central part of the genome encodes for structural and functional proteins;Virulence genes are found near the inverted repeats,-numerous virus-encoded enzymes,are packaged within the virus core, including: * multisubunit DNA-dependent RNA polymerase * RNA polymerase associated protein of 94kd (RAP94) * a transcription factor (VETF) * capping and methylating enzymes * poly(A) polymerase

These components are used to synthesize translatable mRNA

-Importatnt proteins for replication: * topoisomerase * thymidine kinase – allows the incorporation of Thymidine into DNA

* thymidylate kinase – catalyzes the reversible phosphorylotransfer between ATP and TMP

* ribonuceoside reductase – converts ribonucleoside diphosphates ( NDP’s ) into deoxyNDP’s

* dUTPase – minimize the misincorporation of Uracil into DNA * Uracil-DNA gylclosylase – removes the RNA base (Uracil) from DNA

* DNA ligase

VIRAL PROTEINSVIRAL PROTEINS

non enzymaticnon enzymatic -VIRAL PROTEINSVIRAL PROTEINS

1. Membrane proteins:

A33R, A34R, A36RA33R, A34R, A36R :*N-glycosylated, phosphorylated * fromation of actin tail and microvilli, which facilitate viral dissemination A36R : required for kinesin recruitment and is involved in microtubule-based motility of IEV’s A56RA56R: Hemagglutinin, N- and O- glycosylated , promote cell fusion and cell to cell viral spread

A27LA27L: required for the formation of IEV, fusion protein, microtubule –dependent movment, normal sized plaques , has additional role in the viral assembly

A28LA28L: fusion protein; A28 deficient virions with normal amounts of A27 and A17 (binding partner) are unable to induce cell fusion

2. Core proteins:

F17R, L4R, A3L, A10LF17R, L4R, A3L, A10L : account for ~70% of the viral core by weight, bind DNA

VIRAL IMMUNOMODULATORY STRATEGIESVIRAL IMMUNOMODULATORY STRATEGIES

1. Poxviruses encode multiple classes of immunomodulatory proteins to inhibit diverse processes as: * apoptosis * the production of interferon * the production of chemokines and inflammatory cytokines * the activity of complement, NK, CTL’s, antibodies

2. The inhibitory proteins, produced by virus, fall into three main classes:

- - VirokinesVirokines * resemble host cytokines * secreted from infected cells to block hosts receptors * vIL-10, vIL-18- - ViroreceptorsViroreceptors * mimic host cellular receptors * altered cellular receptors that have lost their transmembrane sequnces and consequently are secreted from infected cells to sequester ligands * vINF-Rs, vTNFRs-- Intracellular proteins Intracellular proteins * target host signal transduction pathways * inhibit inner antiviral pathways: apoptosis – vFLIP’s, serpins proinflammatory cascades - TNF

VIRAL IMMUNOMODULATORY PROTEINSVIRAL IMMUNOMODULATORY PROTEINS

j

Johnston,J.B.et al.Poxvirus Immunomodulatory Strategis:Current Perspectives.Journal of Virology (2003), 77: p.6093-6100

VIRAL IMMUNOMODULATORY PROTEINSVIRAL IMMUNOMODULATORY PROTEINS

Complement Regulatory Proteins

- VCP- VCP – Vaccinia virus Complement control Protein, consists of short consensus repeats found in hosts’ complement regulatory proteins. Inhibits the classic and alternative pathways of complement through binding and inactivating both C4b and C3b

-SPICESPICE- the smallpox inhibitor of complement enzymes- molecularly engineered homologue of VCP (Rosengrad et al;.Univ. of Penn.)Demostrated: the functional advantage of variola complement regulatory proteinOver the vaccinia homologue- More human complement specific than VCP-100-fold more potent at inactivating C4b&C3b;-SPICE serves to inhibit the formation of the C3/C5 convertases necessary for Complement-mediated viral clearance

SPICESPICE- provides the first evidence that variola proteins are particulary adept atovercoming human immunity, and the decreased function of VCP suggests onereason why the vaccinia virus vaccine was associated with relatively low mortality.

Disabling SPICE may be useful therapeuticaly

Smallpox

Clinical Presentations, Transmission, Treatment, Vaccination

Transmission of Smallpox Humans are the only natural host of smallpox and it is not known to

be transmitted by insects or animals (no animal reservoir) Transmission generally occurs from direct and fairly prolonged face-

to-face contact (in order for infected spit particles to pass from one person to another)

Infected aerosols and air droplets spread in face-to-face contact with an infected person after fever has begun, esp. if symptoms include coughing

Smallpox can also be spread through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated objects (ie. Bedding and clothing)

In rare instances, smallpox can spread through the air of an enclosed area

Variola major renders infected people bedridden so spreading to the community is reduced

In variola minor, however, the symptoms are so mild that patients remain ambulatory during the infection phase and can spread the virus more widely

Pathogenesis of Smallpox

The portal of entry for smallpox is the respiratory tract or inoculation on the skin

Excretions from the mouth and nose, rather than scabs, are the most important source of infectious virus

Studies have shown that primary infection in the nose or mouth do not produce a “primary lesion” that ulcerates and releases virions onto the surface

Four models have been studied to learn about the spread of the infection through the body: mousepox in mice, rabbitpox in rabbits, and monkeypox and smallpox in monkeys and apes

During incubation the virus proceeds through infection, replication, and liberation (usually accompanied by cell necrosis) first at the site of inoculation and then to the regional lymph nodes, then deeper lymph nodes and possibly into the bloodstream


When tests were performed on humans to determine the pathogenesis, the virus was only rarely collected from the serum of infected persons, even though viraemia had definitely occurred

Therefore it was determined that viraemia in ordinary smallpox was restricted to the pre-eruptive and early eruptive stages of the disease

In hemorrhagic smallpox, however, virus was readily found in the blood and titers were high; thus hemorrhagic smallpox can be associated with overwhelming infection and the continued release of virus into the bloodstream

The primary event for production of lesions of the rash in orthopoxvirus infections is localization (in the small blood vessels of the dermis) of virus particles that circulate in the bloodstream

Vasodilation leads to greater density of lesions


After introduction of smallpox into the oropharyngeal cavities it spreads to the regional lymph nodes

Asymptomatic viremia occurs on the 3rd or 4th day after infection, with further dissemination of the virus to spleen, bone marrow, and other lymph nodes.

The virus localizes in small blood vessels of the dermis and oropharyngeal mucosa, leading to initial onset of the enanthem and exanthem, at which point (about day 14) the patient becomes infectious

The spleen, lymph nodes, kidneys, liver, bone marrow, and other viscera also may contain large amounts of virus

Secondary viremia occurs by the 8th to 12th day after initial infection; this is followed by onset of fever and toxemia.

Smallpox is disseminated through the body in the lymph and bloodstream as cell-associated particles

Enveloped forms of the virus are more important than non-enveloped in the dissemination of the virions over a distance

Pathogenesis of Smallpox The development and evolution of skin lesions is an extremely

valuable clue to the diagnosis and involves the following steps: Dilatation of the capillaries in the papillary layer of the dermis occurs

initially, followed by swelling of the endothelial cells in the vessel walls; perivascular cuffing with lymphocytes, plasma cells, and macrophages can be seen.

Lesions then develop in the epidermis, where the cells become swollen and vacuolated; characteristic B-type inclusion bodies can be found in the cytoplasm.

The cells increase in size and the cell membranes rupture, leading to vesicular lesions.

Pustulation results from the migration of polymorphonuclear cells into the vesicle.

The contents of the pustule gradually become desiccated, leading to crusting or scabbing of the lesions.

Re-epithilialization and scarring occur as the lesions heal.

Effects on Other Organs

A striking feature of smallpox reports is that there is an absence of specific lesions anywhere except in the skin and mucous membranes

The endothelial cells lining the sinusoids of liver were often swollen and occasionally proliferating or necrotic (in more severe cases)

Reticulum cell hyperplasia occurred in bone marrow and spleen

Spleen was usually engorged with very numerous large lymphoid cells


When studies were done on rabbits with rabbitpox to determine the cause of death the rabbits had extreme hypertension, leading to a shock-like syndrome, decreased urinary output and a rise in blood-urea and plasma potassium levels

Death seemed to be caused by lethal concentrations of potassium ion, which was possibly from the hypertension

Clinical Presentations Smallpox is also called Variola 4 orthopoxviruses are known to infect humans: variola,

vaccinia, cowpox, and monkeypox Variola virus is strictly a human virus, although primates

and other animals can be infected under lab conditions Infection begins when the virus comes into contact with

oropharyngeal (mouth and throat) or respiratory mucosa; virus multiplication then occurs in regional lymph nodes

There are 2 clinical forms of Smallpox: Variola Major and Variola Minor

Variola major is severe and the most common form with more extensive rash and higher fever with a death rate of about 30%

Variola minor has less common presentation and much less severe with death rate of 1% or less

Variola Major has 4 clinical presentations based on the nature and evolution of the lesions; those 4 types are: Ordinary: most frequent (more than 90% of cases

in both vaccinated and unvaccinated persons); corresponds to classical description of smallpox

Modified: milder and may occur in previously vaccinated people; rarely fatal

Flat and Hemorrhagic: very severe but uncommon

Stages of Smallpox

Incubation Period Lasts on average 12-14 days but can range from 7-17 days Person is not contagious and exhibits no symptoms

Prodrome Phase This is when initial symptoms develop and is also called the pre-

eruptive stage Begins abruptly with fever, malaise, headache, head and body

aches, prostration, and often nausea and vomiting Body Temperature rises to at least 101F and is often higher Note that this severe febrile prodrome right before the onset of

the rash is characteristic of smallpox and can be used to differentiate it from other rash illnesses

This phase lasts 2-4 days and is sometimes contagious

Stages of Smallpox: Rash Phase When the first visible lesions appear the fever may start to go down

This is the most contagious period (the time when the saliva has the most virus in it)

Lasts 4 days Rash emerges as small red spots on tongue and in mouth (about 24 hours

before the appearance of rash on the skin) Lesions in the mouth and pharynx enlarge and ulcerate quickly, releasing large

amount of virus into the saliva These spots develop into sores that break open and spread large amounts of

virus into mouth and throat The rash starts on the face as a few macules, known as herald spots, and

spreads to the arms and the legs then to the hands and feet The rash usually spreads to all parts of the body in just 24 hours By the 3rd day of the rash the rash becomes raised bumps or papules By the 4th day the bumps become vesicular, fill with a thick, opaque fluid and

often have depression in center that looks like a bellybutton (this umbilication is a major distinguishing characteristic of smallpox especially from chickenpox)

Stages of Smallpox: Rash Phase The fever will rise again at this time and remain high

until scabs form over the bumps By the 6th or 7th day the lesions have become pustules:

they are sharply raised, typically round, tense, firm to the touch (some describe them as feeling like BB’s under the skin)

B/w 7 and 10 days the pustules mature and reach their max size, and the umbilications remain throughout the whole time

Although lesions are dense around the nose and mouth, the majority of lesions are discrete (in some cases the lesions become confluent)

At around 10 days of the rash the pustules begin to form a crust

At about 14 days most of the lesions scab over and some begin to separate

About 3 weeks after the onset scabs have separates and the site of each lesion is depigmented and eventually becomes pitted scars because of deeper skin layer involvement

Stages of Smallpox: Rash Phase The rash of smallpox has a

centrifugal distribution, meaning it is most dense on the face, and more dense on the extremities than on the truck

The palms of the hands and soles of the feet are involved in the majority of cases

These characteristics are important in differentiating smallpox from other causes of rash illness

Another differentiating characteristic of smallpox is that the lesions are all in the same stage of development on that part of the body (unlike chickenpox) these stages of development are: macules, papules, vesicles, and crusted lesions

That was “ordinary” smallpox, now for the 3 other types

Modified: prodromal illness still occurs but is less severe than the ordinary type, usually a fever but not as high, skin lesions tend to evolve more quickly, are more superficial and may not show the uniform characteristic of more typical smallpox

Flat (or malignant) smallpox: sever with a high fatality rate; in flat-type the lesions remain more or less flush with the skin and don’t become raised, accounted for 5-10% of cases in India, the prodrome symptoms are severe and last 3-4 days, fever remains elevated throughout the course of the illness and severe toxic symptoms, skin lesions progress very slowly; lesions contain very little fluid and are not umbilicated; the lesions are soft and velvety to the touch, most cases are fatal

Hemorrhagic smallpox: sever and uncommon form of smallpox that is almost always fatal, involves extensive bleeding into the skin, mucous membranes and GI tract, in the large Indian series it occurred in 2% of cases, the prodrome has prolonged fever with little or no remission, intense headache, restlessness, extreme prostration and toxicity; death often occurs between the 5th and 7th day of illness when only a few maculopapular cutaneous lesions are present

When is a person contagious? A person with smallpox is sometimes

contagious with the onset of fever (the prodrome phase) but a person is most contagious with the onset of the rash

Luckily, by the time a person gets the rash they are so sick they can’t likely move around the community

An infected person is contagious until the last smallpox scab falls off

Clinical Diagnosis There are 3 major criteria for diagnosing if a rash is indeed

smallpox: Prodrome that begins 1-4 days before rash onset and includes

fever over 101F, and at least one of the following symptoms: prostrations, headache, backache, chills, vomiting, abdominal pains

Presence of classic smallpox lesions: firm, round, deep-seated vesicles or pustules

Lesions on the palms of the hands and/or soles of the feet There are 5 minor criteria looked at for diagnosis of smallpox:

Lesions are centrifugal distribution First lesions appear on the oral mucosa, face, or forearms Patient appears toxic Rash has slow evolution, each stage lasting 1-2 days There are lesions on palms of the hands and/or soles of feet

Common conditions confused with Smallpox Varicella (primary infection with varicella zoster virus) Disseminated herpes zoster Impetigo Drug eruptions Contact dermatitis Erythema multiforme minor Eyrthema multiforme (includes Steven Johnsons Syndrome) Enteroviral infection esp. Hand, foot and mouth disease Disseminated herpes simplex Scabies and insect bites Molluscum contagrosum

Laboratory Diagnosis of Smallpox Culture on Egg chorioallantoic membrane (CA): classical method; poxvirus grow on CA

Direct examination of vesicle or pustular material: aggregations of virus may be seen in certain cytoplasm upon staining

Tissue culture: growth in cultured cells EM: negative staining is used to visualize

characteristic large brick shape of poxvirus Relatively rapid Can distinguish orthopox viruses from other

viral agents Cannot differentiate between variola and

vaccinia viruses May not be as sensitive as PCR-Based

methods

Laboratory Diagnosis of Smallpox PCR Based method: In North America a positive test is

considered diagnostic for vaccinia virus unless medical or epidemiologic evidence suggests otherwise

With slight modifications to the fluorescently labeled probe, this assay can also be used to detect variola virus Family specific primers are used first, then subgroup-specific primers

are used if the former is not successful in producing PCR product DNA Probes: Assays using immobilized oligonucleotides in a

microarray have been developed to identify and discriminate among orthopoxviruses

In situ hybridization of formalin-fixed tissues Serology: Classical methods such as complement fixation and

gel precipitation commonly were used in the past; experimental enzyme-linked immunoassays are currently being evaluated

Strain identification: A restriction fragment length polymorphism assay (RFLP) has been developed by CDC using polymorphisms found on 45 variola strains from 1939 to the 1970s

Laboratory Diagnosis

Lab diagnosis of smallpox is made by examination of material from a skin lesions

For a patient who meets criteria for moderate risk, the most important laboratory procedure is rapid diagnostic testing for varicella zoster virus, or VZV

Most common method for detecting VZV is direct fluorescent antibody, or DFA This method detects VZV directly in cells using anti-VZV

antibody conjugated to fluorescein dye This technique is very sensitive and specific but is critically

dependent on careful collection of material from lesion Electron microscopy, detection of VZV DNA by polymerase chain

reaction testing of vesicular fluid or scabs, standard PCR, and cytology smears are other rapid methods for detections of VZV

Ultimately, smallpox is a disease which can be easily diagnosed by trained health workers without the need for laboratory support

Outcomes of Infection: Those who survive usually have scars If eye involvement then blindness could occur Recovery results in long lasting immunity to

reinfection with variola virus; no evidence of chronic or recurrent infection with variola virus

In fatal cases death usually occurs b/w the 10th and 16th days of illness

The cause of death from smallpox is not exactly clear since the infection involves multiple organs; perhaps uncontrolled immune response as well as overwhelming viremia and soluble variola antigens

Treatment of Smallpox

Vaccine is administered up to 4 days after exposure to the virus and before the rash appears, provides protective immunity and can prevent infection or ameliorate the severity of the disease

There is really no effective treatment, other than the management of the symptoms Adequate fluid intake (difficult) Alleviation of pain and fever Keeping skin lesions clean to prevent bacterial infection

Some compounds, such as Cidofovir, are under investigation as chemotherapeutic agents

Vaccination

In 1796, Edward Jenner demonstrated that immunity to smallpox could be produced by inoculating a human with material from a lesion on the udder of a cow (cowpox); Jenner called this material vaccine from vacca which is Latin for cow

At some time during the nineteenth century, the virus used for smallpox ceased to be cowpox and was changed to vaccinia

Vaccinia is in the same family has cowpox and smallpox but genetically different

In the early 1950s (150 years after Jenner’s vaccination came out) an estimated 50 million cases of smallpox occurred in the world each year, which feel to around 10-15 million by 1967 b/c of vaccination

Vaccination The smallpox vaccine is actual

live vaccinia virus, unlike other vaccines which use dead virus; for this reason the vaccination site must be cared for to prevent spread

Smallpox vaccine is administered using a bifurcated needle, not an injection, unlike any other vaccine

The bifurcated needle is dipped into the vaccine and then used to prick the skin 15 times in about 3 seconds in a 5mm radius area

It is administered into the superficial layer of the skin

Vaccination If vaccination is successful a red, itchy bump develops at the

vaccine site in 3-4 days; this is caused by the vaccinia virus replicating in the basal cells of the epidermis producing a papule surrounded by erythema

In the first week the bump becomes a blister, fills with pus, and begins to drain

A person is considered protected with the development of a pustule like this at the vaccination site

During the second week the blister begins to dry and a scab forms; the scab then falls off leaving a scar

Most people experience the side effects of a sore arm, fever, and body aches and axillary lymphadenopathy (3-5 days after vaccination)

1st time vaccinators have a stronger reaction than those who are re-vaccinated

Because the virus is live it can be spread to other parts of the body or to other people so great care must be given to the vaccination site to prevent this

Vaccination The vaccine provides a high level of immunity for 3-5 years and

decreasing immunity thereafter If a person is re-vaccinated the immunity lasts even longer Studies show that even 30 years after a vaccination, while a person may

not be protected against smallpox they have a less severe disease The vaccine has been effective in preventing smallpox in 95% of people

vaccinated Evidence for a brisk cell-mediated immune response has also been

detected It is believed that healing of the vaccinia infection is associated with intact

cell-mediated or T-cell and cytokine immune competence, and that viremia is defended by an intact antibody or B-cell immune competence

If the vaccine is given in 1-2 days after exposure to smallpox it is effective in preventing smallpox or mitigating the symptoms of those who have been exposed

The fatality rate among people vaccinated less than 10 years before exposure was 1.3%; it was 7% among those vaccinated 11-20 years prior, and 11% among those vaccinated 20 or more years prior to infection; 52% of unvaccinated people died

Vaccination The antibodies induced by the vaccinia vaccine cross protect for

other Orthopoxviruses (including monkeypox, cowpox, and smallpox)

Three different smallpox vaccines are available (or will soon be) in the U.S.

All 3 contain the New York City Board of Health strain of live vaccinia virus

Dryvax is the currently licensed vaccine; it was produced by Wyeth Lederle in the early 1980s from calph lymph containing live vaccinia virus; the vaccine is provided as a freeze dried powder in a multi-dose vial

Dryvax is produced by infecting a calf with vaccinia and then collecting the lymph from the virus filled pustules on the calf’s udder

Dryvax contains the antibiotics polymyxin B, streptomycin, tetracycline and neomycin

A second vaccine produced years ago by Aventis Pasteur would be available in the case of an emergency

Vaccination New smallpox vaccines also contain live New York City Board of

Health vaccinia virus, but are produced using cell culture technology rather than live animals; these vaccines may also be distributed as a freeze dried powder but do not contain antibiotic

In October 2002 Acambis-Baxter Laboratories began preparing Tissue culture cell vaccines

The two types of cells being used to cultivate the vaccinia virus are: Vero monkey kidney cells, and human fibroblast cell line (MRC5)

It is thought that these cell cultured vaccines will have less side-effects than the calph-lymph vaccine

The other vaccines currently being developed: Modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vaccine, Japanese strain LC16m8 vaccine

Current supply: there are 14.8 million doses of DryVax available and 85 million doses of the Aventis product, and when the Acambis vaccines are available there will be an additional 209 million doses available

Who Should Not Get the Vaccine? The vaccine is contraindicated for:

Persons who have experienced a serious allergic reaction to a prior dose of vaccine or to a vaccine component

Persons with significant immunosuppression from any cause (HIV, transplant, receiving treatment for cancer) or anyone with an immunosuppressed person in their household

Pregnant women and persons with a pregnant person in the household

Breastfeeding women Children under 12 months; in fact the Advisory Committee on

Immunization Practices (ACIP) advises against non-emergency vaccination in children under 18

Persons with any heart problems, stroke or transient ischemic attack, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes

Persons with any sort of skin condition Persons with inflammatory eye diseases requiring steroid therapy

4 Main Complications of Vaccination

Ecxema vaccinatum Occurred in vaccinated persons or unvaccinated contacts who were suffering from or had a history of eczema An eruption occurred at the sites on the body that were at the time affected by eczema or had been Symptoms severe; eruptions became intensely inflamed Occurred in 74 persons with no deaths; 60 cases from contact with vaccinated persons with 1 death

Progressive vaccinia (vaccinia necrosum) Occurred in persons who suffered from an immune deficiency or with humoral or immune globulin deficiencies Local lesion at the vaccination site failed to heal; all lesions spread progressively until the patient died, usu. 2-5

months later Occurred in 11 person, with 4 deaths

Generalized vaccinia Occurred in otherwise healthy individuals Characterized by development, from 6-9 days after vaccination, of a generalized rash, sometimes covering whole

body Prognosis good Occurred in 143 persons with no deaths

Postvaccinial encephalitis Most serious complication Occurred in 2 forms: 1. seen in infants under 2 years old, had violent onset, characterized by convulsions 2. seen

in children older than 2 years had abrupt onset, with fever, vomiting, headache, and malaise Fatality rate was about 35%, with death usually occurring within a week Occurred in 16 persons with 4 deaths

Other complications: congenital vaccinia (infection of fetus), accidental implantation (autoinoculation of any disrupted skin), vaccinia keratitis (autoinoculation of the eye and prior eye disease)

Finally, in the past 1000 for every 10 million people vaccinated for the first time experiences reaction that was serious but not life threatening; b.w 14-52 people developed life threatening symptoms

Progressive Vaccinia

Generalized Vaccinia

Eczema Vaccinia

Contact Vaccinia

Developed Erythema Multiforme 1 mo. After vaccine

Progressive Vaccinia

Secondary herpes infection

Treatments for Complications from Vaccination Vaccinia Immune Globulin (VIG) is a sterile solution of the immunoglubulin

fraction of plasma from person who was vaccinated with smallpox vaccine VIG was produces in the 1960s and it contained a high titer of anti-vaccinia

neutralizing antibody VIG has shown to work in the treatment of smallpox vaccine adverse

reactions caused by continued replication of vaccinia virus, such as the above mentioned complications

VIG is available from CDC under an investigational new drug protocol Cidofovir is an antiviral medication (not previously used in humans) used to

treat vaccinia infection; it is considered a second line therapy for smallpox vaccine adverse reactions

A new intravenous formulation of VIG is being produces to support treatment of adverse events that may result from smallpox vaccination

VIG is not recommended for mild instances of inadvertent inoculation, mild generalized vaccinia, erythema multiform, post-vaccination encephalities, and isolated vaccinia keratitis

Vaccinations Now

Routine vaccination in the U.S ended in 1972 for children and 1976 for healthcare workers

On December 13, 2002, President Bush announced the following US policy: Smallpox vaccinations are required for military personnel; according to the

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), approximately 500,000 military personnel will be vaccinated.

Smallpox vaccinations are recommended for smallpox response teams comprised of public health staff and healthcare workers likely to be involved in the initial care of any patients with smallpox.

Smallpox vaccinations also are being offered to other healthcare workers and to first-responders (including police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians).

Smallpox vaccinations likely will be made available to the general public on a voluntary basis once large stockpiles of the vaccine are licensed.

Small Response Teams: Department of Health and Human Services will work with state and local governments to form volunteer smallpox response teams who can provide critical services in the event of a smallpox outbreak

Vaccinations Now

On April 30, 2003, the President signed into law the Smallpox Emergency Personnel Protection Act of 2003

The law establishes a no-fault program to provide benefits and compensation to certain individuals (ie, healthcare workers and emergency responders) who are injured as a result of administration of smallpox vaccination or other smallpox countermeasures

Vaccinations Now In a report released in August 2003, the Institute of Medicine (IOM)

Committee on Smallpox Vaccination Program Implementation made several recommendations regarding offering smallpox vaccination to the general public

Specifically, the Committee recommended that CDC proceed by: Conducting brief quantitative surveys to determine public interest and desire for

smallpox vaccine; these surveys should include public and private health agencies as well as the general public, in order to understand the potential scope of public interest.

Determining the budgetary and other requirements that would meet the demand noted.

Identifying, monitoring, and referring people to existing or planned smallpox vaccine clinical research trials or other well-structured clinical programs that meet the basic requirements of medical and public health ethics, including assurances for safety of vaccinees and their contacts, acceptable balance between risk and benefit, and acceptable distribution of scarce public health resources to meet all preparedness as well as other public health goals; The committee encourages CDC to consider utilizing a pilot program or some other means of evaluating the initial experiences with this effort.

During the smallpox eradication campaign (1970s) and during smallpox outbreaks in the past, a "ring vaccination" (used in 1967) strategy has been followed

This approach is incorporated into the current CDC Smallpox Plan Ring vaccination essentially involves creating a circle of

vaccinated persons around each case to interrupt the chain of transmission.

The strategy involves the following steps: Rapid identification and isolation of all smallpox cases Identification and vaccination of contacts of smallpox cases Monitoring contacts for development of fever and isolating them if fever

occurs Vaccination of household members of contacts if no contraindications to

vaccination exist In addition to ring vaccination, rapid voluntary vaccination of a

large population may be required to: Supplement priority surveillance and containment control strategies in areas

with smallpox cases Reduce the "at-risk" population for additional intentional releases of smallpox

virus if the probability of such occurrences is considered significant Address heightened public or political concerns regarding access to

voluntary vaccination

Management of an Outbreak

Surveillance of smallpox infection is probably easier than for any other infectious disease because of the distinctive rash, which is wholly characteristic

Containment involves efficient detection of cases and identification and vaccination of contacts

Patients diagnosed with smallpox should be physically isolated All specimen collectors, care givers and attendants coming into

close contact with patients should be vaccinated as soon as smallpox is diagnosed as the cause of an outbreak

Medical care givers, attendants, and mortuary workers, even if vaccinated, should wear gloves, caps, gowns, and surgical masks

Contaminated clothing and bedding, if not incinerated, should be autoclaved or washed in hot water containing bleach

Fumigation of premises may be done with formaldehyde

Isolation Precautions

Airborne and Contact Precautions in addition to Standard Precautions should be implemented for patients with suspected smallpox.

Airborne Precautions: Place the patient in a private room with negative air-pressure ventilation (minimum 6

air exchanges/hr). Use external air exhaust or high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters if the air is

recirculated. Keep the door to the room closed.

Contact Precautions: Place the patient in a private room if available. If a private room is not available, place the patient in a room with a patient who has

active infection with the same organism (ie, cohort patients with smallpox). Wear gloves when entering the room, change gloves after having contact with

infectious material, remove gloves before leaving the room, and immediately wash hands using an antimicrobial agent.

Wear a gown when entering the room if clothing will have significant patient contact; remove the gown before leaving the room.

Move and transport the patient for essential purposes only. If transport is necessary, a mask should be placed on the patient.

When possible, dedicate the use of noncritical patient-care equipment.

Autopsy and Burial Procedures According to WHO "Cadavers should be cremated, in a properly

designed facility, whenever possible and all persons coming in contact with them should be vaccinated or at least placed on daily fever watch. Body bags treated with hypochlorite bleach can also be used."

Consideration should be given to using sealed systems when burying patients who have died of smallpox. An example of the type of system that can be used to seal remains prior to placing them in a casket for burial is the BioSeal Facility System, produced by Barrier Products

This system utilizes a poly-aluminum foil–extruded laminate material that when used with a heat sealer will provide Level 1 containment for all gases, fluids, vapors, and odors associated with the transport and storage of human and animal remains.

BIOTERRORISMBIOTERRORISM-The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) divided biological agents that are critical biothreat agents into 3 categories ( A, B,C ) based upon their risk for causing mass casualties in the event of bioterrorist atack.

-Variola ( smallpox) wass classified as a category A agent: * poses a risk to national security (it can be easily disseminated or transmitted person to person) * causes high mortality, with potential for major public health impact * might cause public panic and social disruption * demands special action for public health preparedness

- Variola requires Lab. Biosafty Level 4

BIOTERRORISMBIOTERRORISM

- Smallpox is a disease that followed humanity for thousands of years until ~30 years ago. It was possible to eradicate smallpox, because an effective live vaccine from crossreacting virus – vaccinia was developed.

The global vaccination program was financed and managed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the official eradiction announcement was made in 1980.

- Over 20 years have passed since general vaccinations stopped and very few people are protected against the disease today.

- General vaccination, due to the number of complications that can be expected, is probably not possible with the present vaccines, except in an emergency. There is ongoing research in order to develop new vaccines.

Tengell et al. Smallpox-eradicated, but growing terror threat. Clin Microbiol Infect (2002), 8: 504-509

BIOTERRORISMBIOTERRORISM- It was formerly thought that smallpox was not very suitable for biological warfare, because it was too infectious. An attack would entail a high risk of a worldwide epidemic, striking even the populations of the attackers.

- Terrorists generally lack the means for vaccinating large groups of people and have less opportunity to run large – scale virus cultures. Thus, it has been considered far more probable that they would prefer bacterial resource such as anthrax, which entails less risk of uncontrollable epidemics.

-Terrorist movement or the military command of a state could draw a conclusion that an attack with variola in the USA could allow the epidemic to remain local because of the expected vigorous countermeasures. If the risk of a worldwide epidemic seems small, an attack might be an attempt.

- Additionally, we have now seen that terrorist can be extremely fanatical. The attacks on September 11th, 2001 demonstrated the great ruthlessness and considerable resources of some terrorists.

Atlas R.F. Bioterrorism: From Threat to Reality. Annu Rev.Microbiol.(2002)56: 167-85


Why is variola virus considered an ideal bioterrorist weapon:

- It is highly transmissible by the aerosol route from infected to susceptible people;- The civilian populations of most countries contain a high proportion of susceptible persons;- Smallpox is associated with high morbidity and about 30% mortality;- Initially, diagnosis of a disease that has not been seen for 20 years would be difficult; - At present, other than the vaccine, which may be effective in the first few days post-infection, there is no proven drug treatment available for clinical smallpox;- It induces panic;

Mahy,B.W.J. An overview on the use of a viral pathogen as a bioterrorism agent: why smallpox?(2003) Antiviral Research 57: 1-5


-Vaccinia virus, if released as an aerosol and not exposed to UV lights may persist for as long as 24 hours. It is belived that variola virus would exhibit similar properties.-Vaccinia virus, if released as an aerosol, is almost completely destroyed within 6 hours in an atmosphere of high temperature (31C – 33 C) and humidity (80%). In cooler temperatures (10 C- 11 C) and humidity (20%), nearly two thirds of a vaccinia aerosol survives for as long as 24 hours. It is belived that variola would behave similarly.

-Virus in scabs is more durable. At a temperature of 35 C and 65% humidity , the virus can persist for 3 weeks. At cooler temp. (26 C) the virus has survived for 8 weeks at high humidity and 12 weeks at a relative humidity less than 10%-Dutch investigators demonstrated that it was possible to isolate variola virus from scabs that had been sitting on a shelf for 13 years.

-Vaccinia / Variola viruses are sensitive to disinfectants like hypochlorite (bleach) and ammonia – are effective for cleaning surfaces

Henderson,D.A. et al. Smallpox as Biological Weapon. (1999) JAMA, 281 : 2127-2137


Bill Patrick, a former bioweaponeer who worked at Fort Detrick, Md. , before the American offensive biological weapons program was dismanteled in 1969, says:

- Bioweaponeers in the US program had begun weaponizing smallpox before the US biological weapons offensive effort was halted.- “We made a beautiful powder for smallpox. We used chemical to protect it during dissemination and aerozolation”- A gram of powdered virus ( equivalent of a quarter of a teaspoon of baking powder) would infect 100 people.

http://www.mercola.com/fcgi/pf/2001/nov/14/smallox.htm


- There are only two official stocks of smallpox virus that are held: 1. USA: at CDC in Atlanta, Georgia 2. Russia: at Vector in Novosibirsk, Siberia (moved in 1984 from Moscow)

-Dr. Kenneth AlibekDr. Kenneth Alibek (formerly Kanatjan AlibekowKanatjan Alibekow), a native from Kazakhstan, medical doctor, and officer of the Red Army, he worked from 1975 to 1992 for the Soviet Biopreparat complex ( an ostensibly civilian pharmaceutical production association that was actually a top-secret branch of the Soviet biological weapons program). Dr.Alibek was the Chief Scientist and first deputy director of Biopreparat in 1988. He defected to the USA in 1992.

- His book ( with Stephen Handelman) Biohazard: The Chilling True Story of the Largest Covert Biological Weapons Program in the World (Random House 1999) describes his experience with Russian biological warfare (BW) activites.


-In 1998, Dr.Alibek visited the Center for NonproliferationStudies in Monterey and met with the staff for the Chemi-Cal and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Project(CBWNP). He was interviewed by Jonathan B. Tucker,CBWNP Director. Additionally he released a statement, where he discussed the BW situation in Russia in a great detail.

1.The Soviet Union had the most efficient, sophisticated, and powerful offensive BW programs in the world. It developed a completely new class of weapons based on genetically modified agents, eg. during the 1980’s they developed antibiotic-resistant strains of plague, anthrax, and tularemia.

BIOTERRORISMBIOTERRORISM2. Russia researched the genetic alteration of smallpox. * “In 1990 and 1991, we engineered a smallpox at Vector. It was found that several areas of the smallpox genome can be used for the introduction of some foreign genetic material. The first development was smallpox and VEE. VEE, or Venezuelan equine encephalitis, is a brain virus. It causes a severe headache and near-coma, but it is generally not lethal. Alibek said that the researchers spliced VEE into smallpox . The result was a recombinant chimera virus: Veepox.”

ABC News - Dec. 3, 2002 - by Brian Rosshttp://www.sierratimes.com/cgi-bin/warroom/topic.cgi?forum=6&topic=39

* More recently, Alibek claims, the Vector researchers may have created a recombinant Ebola-smallpox chimera. One could call it Ebolapox.


*Ebola virus uses the molecule RNA for its genetic code, whereas smallpox uses DNA.Alibek believes that the Russian researchers made a DNA copy of the disease-causingparts of Ebola, then grafted them into smallpox. Alibek said he thinks that the Ebolapoxvirus is stable -- that is, that it will replicate successfully in a test tube or in animals –which means that, once created, Ebolapox will live forever in a laboratory, and will not uncreate itself. Thus a new form of life may have been brought into the world.

ABC News - Dec. 3, 2002 - by Brian Rosshttp://www.sierratimes.com/cgi-bin/warroom/topic.cgi?forum=6&topic=39

EBOLAPOX

*"The Ebolapox could produce the form of smallpox called blackpox," Alibek says. Blackpox, sometimes known as hemorrhagic smallpox, is the most severe type of smallpox disease. In a blackpox infection, the skin does not develop blisters. Instead, the skin becomes dark all over. Blood vessels leak, resulting in severe internal hemorrhaging. Blackpox is invariably fatal. "As a weapon, the Ebolapox would give the hemorrhages and high mortality rate of Ebola virus" Alibek said.


- Additionally, Alibek stated : * No dry smallpox weapon was developed, just one in a liquid form. * Some supplies of smallpox (also plague and anthrax) were manufactured, stored, and stockpiled. Immediately after receiving an order it would take just two or three days to transfer these agents from storage tanks into cluster bomblets and spray tanks. Each 500kg cluster bomb contained more than 100 bomblets. The bombs would be stored in the refrigerated bunkers until use. The Nonproliferation Review / Spring-Summer 1999 http://cns.miis.edu/pubs/npr/vol06/63/alibek63.pdf

Mousepox

- Mark Buller, a scientist, who is funded by the US government, deliberately created a deadly form of mousepox, which is closely related to the smallpox virus, through genetic engineering. Reason: to study what bioterrorists might do. -Another team ,Ramshaw's team, continued research by adding a gene called IL-4 to the modified mousepox. He expected that doing this would boost antibody production, but instead, the new mousepox virus was far more lethal, killing 60 percent of vaccinated mice. Debora Mackenzie. US develops lethal new viruses.(2003) New Scientist http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/gn301/Supplements/Mousepox_Virus_SR3.html


- Q: What was the logic of developing an agent like smallpox, which is so contagious that it could create a huge pandemic? A: Unfortunately, it is a normal progression to develop more powerful weapons. Why, for example, did we develop a 100-megaton hydrogen bomb when both superpowers had 10-megaton and 20- megaton bombs? -For the Soviet Union, the main doctrine was to use biological weapons in so – called total wars involving possible mutual destruction between the USA and the Soviet Union and their allies

-Given, however, the economic situation in the former Soviet Union, the incentive to sell equipment and knowledge suitable for biological weapons production without regard to their eventual use is great both for the government and for individual scientists and businessmen. The Russian government has long been short of funds, and its biotechnology arena has also been adversely affected. Many of its scientist are unemployed; those that are employed are paid poorly or not at all.

The Nonproliferation Review / Spring-Summer 1999 http://cns.miis.edu/pubs/npr/vol06/63/alibek63.pdf

BIOTERRORISMBIOTERRORISMCDC plan and guidelines for containment and vaccination in the event of smallpox bioterrorist attack:

• The plan calls for isolation of confirmed or suspected smallpox patients to limit the potential exposure of nonimmune persons.

• Vaccinia vaccine would be recommended for persons who were exposed to the initial release of the virus:

- Persons who had face-to-face, household, or close-proximity contact (~2m) with confirmed or suspected smallpox patients- Laboratory personnel involved in the collection or processing of clinical specimens from confirmed or suspected smallpox patients- And other persons who have an increased likelihood of contact with infectious materials from a smallpox patient

Atlas R.F. Bioterrorism: From Threat to Reality. Annu Rev.Microbiol.(2002)56: 167-85

Smallpox Charlotte McKinley Jessica Midence Izabella Messina.

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