Officials in several countries have recently announced plans to prepare for possible smallpox outbreaks in the event of a terrorist attack, according to reports this week.

The United Kingdom plans to vaccinate hundreds of civilian and military health care professionals against smallpox, the prime minister’s office said in a press release yesterday (see GSN, Oct. 9).

By the end of January, 350 health care workers comprising 12 Regional Smallpox Response Groups should be immunized and prepared to respond to a smallpox attack, British Health Minister John Hutton said.  “They will consist of infectious disease physicians and pediatricians, public health physicians, microbiologists/virologists, acute care and communicable disease control nurses and occupational health staff,” he added.

Additionally, the British Defense Ministry is working closely with the British Health Department to coordinate vaccinations for military health specialists, according to the release.

“We have decided to offer vaccination against smallpox to a small number of specialist military personnel whose specialization means they face a greater risk of exposure to smallpox,” British Defense Minister Lewis Moonie said.  “This will include those nuclear-biological-chemical specialists and specialist medical personnel who would form the spearhead of our defensive response,” he added (British release, Dec. 2).

U.S. Cities

Meanwhile, health officials in California and New York City have been working to meet a Dec. 9 deadline to submit a request for U.S. counterterrorism funds, according to reports.

Los Angeles County health officials are requesting 20,000 doses of smallpox vaccine and California health officials are asking for an additional 40,000 to 50,000 doses, the Associated Press reported today.  The Los Angeles doses would go to health care workers who would respond to a smallpox terrorist attack, said Jonathan Fielding, Los Angeles County public health director (Associated Press, Dec. 3).

New York City health officials submitted a preliminary smallpox response plan yesterday but details have not been made public, the New York Post reported today.  Other proposals that officials have said they plan to submit next week might recommend smallpox vaccinations for 100 medical personnel in each city hospital, according to the Post.  U.S. officials granted New York City $26 million earlier this year to prepare for a biological terrorist attack (Frankie Edozien, New York Post, Dec. 3).

Canada

In Canada, a government requisition for enough vaccine to immunize the entire country will probably go to the Ontario-based company Aventis Pasteur, Reuters reported Friday (see GSN, June 12).

Canada currently has vaccine to inoculate 1.5 million people.  It could take 10 months to produce an additional 10 million doses, which, when diluted, would be enough for every Canadian, officials said.

“The view is that the possibility that smallpox could be used as a biological weapon is low,” said Tara Madigan, a spokeswoman for the Canadian Health Ministry.  “However, Canada felt it was prudent to take all necessary steps to protect the health and safety and security of all Canadians,” she added (Rajiv Sekhri, Reuters, Nov. 29).

Japan

In Japan, officials want to buy 10 million doses of smallpox vaccine by 2003, the Economist reported Friday.  Japan has spent more than $47 million to prepare for a biological terrorist attack (Economist, Nov. 28).

About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines

HOME  |  CONTACT US  |  GET INVOLVED  |  SITE MAP

Back to top