CDC forms strategy for smallpox outbreak

     The Center for Disease Control has released their strategy for handling a smallpox outbreak in the United States.  Victims would be isolated and a vaccination of the "containment ring" of people exposed to an infected patient would occur, rather than mass vaccinations.       

     Vaccination capability in the U.S. is currently limited because the nation  has only about 15 million doses of smallpox vaccine stockpiled.  Preliminary findings from tests to dilute the vaccine suggest that the number of doses can be multiplied by a factor of  least five.  The government is also seeking to make more vaccine and indicates that in the meantime, vaccine from the exsisting stockpile could be delivered anywhere in the country within hours of a confirmed or suspected case of smallpox.

     Up-to-date information on smallpox and/or anthrax may be obtained at the CDC website, www.cdc.gov