Smallpox

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Smallpox Pre-Event Investigation Team

Updated: March 5

The Municipality of Anchorage Department of Health & Human Services is participating in the federal and state preparation for the event of a bioterrorism attack. Federal guidelines indicate smallpox as a likely biological weapon. Smallpox was eradicated worldwide over 30 years ago, but two laboratory banks maintained the live virus; one in the U. S. and one in Russia. Intelligence sources believe the one in Russia has been breached, and that enemies of the U.S. have the smallpox virus in their possession.

There are many biological weapons that could be used as an act of bioterrorism. A comprehensive list of biological agents is on the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) web site: http://www.cdc.gov

Other web site sources for more information are located in the external links section to the right.

The MOA/DH&HS Investigation Team

A voluntary pre-event team was formed at the Municipal Department of Health & Human Services. The team consists of 11 public health nurses and the MOA Medical Officer. This team is currently being vaccinated in stages, so they will be protected and prepared to investigate an outbreak of smallpox. The vaccinations are staged at different times, because the side effects from the vaccine can be extreme.

Typical side effects include:

Sore, swollen arms,

Fever,

Swollen glands, and

Itching

Extreme side effects, although rare, can include:

Encephalitis, which can cause paralysis or permanent neurological damage,

Progressive vaccinia, where the virus spreads and eats away at flesh, bone and gut, and

Death. Federal officials estimate that if the 130 million Americans never vaccinated, were to be vaccinated, that nearly 2,000 would face life-threatening complications and 125 to 250 of them would die.This rate is estimated to be lower for people who have previously received smallpox vaccinations.

What does the Team Do?

Their function, in the event a case of smallpox is reported in the Municipality, would be to alert the federal CDC. They would attempt to isolate the suspected smallpox victim, take a culture from the person, and document the symptoms with digital cameras. Vaccinated members of the team would isolate this individual, and send the medical documentation to the federal CDC. In the meantime, they would be establishing a “ring” circle of all the people who had come into contact with this person, preparing to vaccinate them within 72 hours. If CDC confirms the case as smallpox, the Municipality of Anchorage DHHS would probably move into Stage III of the federal and state plan, which is to vaccinate all individuals within the MOA boundaries. All cities in Alaska have similar plans.

An outbreak of smallpox would be considered an act of deliberate bioterrorism, because smallpox no longer exists outside laboratory banks. If an outbreak occurred, then the teams prepared by state, municipal and hospital agencies would likely move to vaccinate the entire population. There is enough vaccine to do this. The CDC is prepared to deliver enough vaccine for the entire population of Alaska within 12 hours. In the event of a mass vaccination, Anchorage residents would probably be directed with public service announcements on radio and television to their nearest high school.

When will the Team be Vaccinated?

Six members of the team were vaccinated on February 20; three were vaccinated on February 26, and three on March 5 2003.

The only side effects reported by the MOA Investigation team to date (March 6, 2003) have been:

Itchy vaccination sites

Swollen vaccination sites

Swollen lymph gland (one)

Click HERE to view Pictures of the arms of Vaccination Sites:
Click HERE for Frequently Asked Questions about Smallpox:

632 W. 6th Avenue Anchorage, Alaska 99501
PO Box 196650 Anchorage, Alaska 99519
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