It is a deadly virus that can kill as many as 30% of the people it infects. As recently at 1967, an estimated 15 million people contracted the disease, with 2 million of those dying. What is this sickness? Smallpox, caused by the Variola virus, is a highly contagious disease that, if unprepared for, could cause mass devastation if used as a biological weapon. Its affects can range from small, raised pustules on the skin combined with flu-like symptoms, to hemorrhages that develop in the skin and mucous membranes that can cause the skin to slough off. A disease this virulent must be prepared for. In this post-9/11 era, readiness is as important as ever, and one of the most efficient ways to be prepared for a smallpox attack is to study its transmission patterns in Europe and North America following World War II, specifically examining our current vulnerability, traits of these past outbreaks, and any patterns that may arise.
So why is smallpox such a threat to today's society?......
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