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Smallpox is a serious, contagious and sometimes fatal disease caused by a virus and followed by fever and a progressive skin rash. While smallpox outbreaks have occurred in the past, in 1980 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared smallpox had been eradicated due to a worldwide vaccination program. The last case of smallpox in the United States was in 1949. The last naturally occurring case in the world was in Somalia in 1977. After the disease was eliminated from the world, routine vaccination
against smallpox among the general public was stopped because it was no
longer necessary for prevention. In response to recent concerns regarding the use of smallpox as a bioterror weapon, the U.S. government has ordered production of enough smallpox vaccine to immunize the American public in the event of a smallpox outbreak. Additionally, emergency guidelines for prompt vaccination and containment of a smallpox epidemic have been prepared. Currently, the smallpox vaccine is recommended for persons working in a laboratory setting with smallpox or closely related viruses and people designated to respond or care for a suspected or confirmed case of smallpox. Routine smallpox vaccination of the general population is not recommended at this time. For more information on smallpox including Fact Sheets, ACIP Recommendations for Smallpox Vaccine and Frequently Asked Questions, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Disease Reporting: Health-care providers and laboratories are required
to immediately report cases and suspect cases of smallpox to the local
health department and the Utah Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology at one of the following numbers: Back to Top |
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