Abstract
Introduction: Although smallpox has been declared eradicated in 1980, we still have to consider it a global threat, provided the terrorist and bioterrorist attacks of September 2001 and the ongoing precarious worldwide political situation. Materials and Methods: We performed an email-based survey, composed of 6 YES/NO questions aimed to evaluate current basic smallpox knowledge among medical students, residents and specialists. Results: A total of 172 people from 22 different countries replied to our email. 111 were students (64.5%), 38 residents (22.1%), and 23 specialists (13.4%). More than half participants (54.6%) stated they had never had a lecture on smallpox during medical school and showed lack of knowledge about basic concepts that could be useful in the event of a bioterrorist attack (recognition of typical lesions, natural history, differential diagnosis, and treatment). Moreover, medical students showed a significant lower knowledge if compared to graduates regarding basic smallpox clinical questions (P<0.05). Conclusions: Our findings support the hypothesis that since its eradication, there has been a general decay of basic smallpox knowledge. These observations rise concerns on medical preparedness to respond to a bioterrorist attack.
Highlights
Smallpox has been declared eradicated in 1980, we still have to consider it a global threat, provided the terrorist and bioterrorist attacks of September 2001 and the ongoing precarious worldwide political situation
Our findings support the hypothesis that since its eradication, there has been a general decay of basic smallpox knowledge
These observations rise concerns on medical preparedness to respond to a bioterrorist attack
Summary
Smallpox has been declared eradicated in 1980, we still have to consider it a global threat, provided the terrorist and bioterrorist attacks of September 2001 and the ongoing precarious worldwide political situation. Monkeypox is another poxvirus reported in the African rainforests, that causes human smallpox-like disease through direct contact with infected animals or humans (squirrels and rodents) [17]. Pre-emptive selected vaccination of public health and security workers has been initially suggested in order to limit the spread of a possible bioterrorist attack, but this would not be cost-effective and it might be potentially harmful.
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