USA prepares defences against smallpox attack

Abstract

A 20-year contract recently awarded to OraVax (now Acambis Inc, Cambridge, MA, USA) for large-scale production of smallpox vaccine for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), highlights growing concern in the USA about the threat of biological warfare and terrorism. Smallpox, along with anthrax, plague, and botulism, is in the US Army's high-priority (A) category of organisms that can be easily disseminated and require special action for public-health preparedness. The new smallpox vaccine will be used to create a national stockpile to counter the threat of bioterrorism.