[20030110]RS21288_天花：该疾病的技术背景及其在恐怖主义中的潜在作用.pdf

1 Some experts have estimated the fatality rate for unvaccinated victims to be approximately 50%.See T. Mack. “Smallpox in Europe,1950-1971.” Journal of Infectious Disease. Vol. 125(2):161-9. February 1972.Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS21288Updated January 10, 2003Smallpox: Technical Background on theDisease and Its Potential Role in Terrorismnae redactedScience and Technology AnalystResources, Science, and Industry DivisionSummarySmallpox, which kills approximately 30% of its victims, is estimated to have killedbetween 300 and 500 million people in the twentieth century before the World HealthOrganizations successful eradication program. The smallpox vaccine is effective atpreventing smallpox but has a higher complication rate than any other currently usedvaccine. The terrorist attacks of 2001 have increased fears that smallpox might be usedas a weapon of terror. Smallpox has several properties that might make it desirable byterrorists, such as contagiousness and high lethality. These factors and its limitedavailability also make it difficult for a terrorist to use. Most experts agree that it i