Hull Harry F, Danila Richard, Ehresmann Kristen
Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention, and Control Division, Minnesota Department of Health, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA.
J Lab Clin Med. 2003 Oct;142(4):221-8. doi: 10.1016/S0022-2143(03)00144-6.
There is great concern that smallpox could be used for bioterrorism. The disease has a high mortality rate and can be spread by aerosols, and immunity in the population is low. Although an initial release of smallpox could infect a large number of people, secondary spread would likely be slow because of the long incubation period and the close contact required for transmission. Hospital personnel and household contacts are at the greatest risk of becoming infected. An outbreak of smallpox will be controlled through surveillance, containment, vaccination, and isolation of cases-the strategy used to eradicate the disease globally in 1978. Pre-exposure vaccination is recommended for hospital personnel likely to be exposed to smallpox while caring for patients during an outbreak.
人们高度担心天花可能会被用于生物恐怖主义。这种疾病死亡率很高，可通过气溶胶传播，而且人群中的免疫力较低。虽然天花的初次传播可能会感染大量人群，但由于潜伏期长且传播需要密切接触，二次传播可能会很缓慢。医院工作人员和家庭接触者感染风险最大。天花疫情将通过监测、控制、接种疫苗以及隔离病例来控制，这也是1978年在全球根除该疾病所采用的策略。对于在疫情期间照顾患者时可能接触天花的医院工作人员，建议进行暴露前接种疫苗。
