Friday, June 29, 2012

CDC Swoops On Smallpox Scab In Historical Society Exhibition

A "Bizarre Bits" exhibit put together at the Virginia Historical Society included an original 1876 handwritten letter which had what looked like a smallpox scab attached to it. A government scientist who attended the exhibit became so concerned that the scab might transmit smallpox infection that he alerted the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The CDC promptly sent two representatives clad in surgical gowns and gloves to carefully remove the scab from the display case, seal it in bio-bags and take it back to headquarters for testing.

Dr. Levengood, President of the Virginia Historical Society (VHS) said the scab, which was light brown, crumbling and about the size of a fingernail, attracted a great deal of attention when people came to the exhibit. Levengood added that when displaying the letter with the scab they had no idea it might pose a health hazard, and had only thought of it as a weird item.

The CDC explained that it was simply following procedures when there is a public health concern about something unusual.

Lee Shepherd, VHS vice-president, said of the letter and scab:

"It was certainly interesting, and a little bit out of the ordinary, but you'd be surprised at some of the things we get around here."


The 130-year-old letter was written by a Richmond man and posted to his father in Charlottesville. It gives us a small glimpse of the first steps in immunization.

Quotes from the letter:

"Dear Pa. . . The piece I inclose is perfectly fresh and was taken from an infant's arm yesterday. . . Dr. Harris says the inclosed scab will vaccinate 12 persons, but if you want more, you must send for it. I will pin this to the letter so that you cannot lose it as you did before."


It was not until the 1940s that the smallpox injection vaccine became widely available. Beforehand, smallpox scabs would be rubbed onto the skin with the hope of developing immunity. The expectation was that the individual would get a mild infection and be protected for life. Unfortunately, the subsequent infection was often very severe, as was the case with Benjamin Franklin's son, who died of smallpox after having scabs rubbed onto his skin in 1736.

The smallpox vaccination campaign eventually managed to eradicate the disease in 1980. Only two live samples exist in secure laboratories today, one in the USA and the other in Russia. After smallpox was eradicated WHO (World Health Organization) asked all countries worldwide to destroy their smallpox laboratory stocks or securely send them to the two laboratories mentioned above. Although it appears everybody cooperated properly, we have no compelling proof of this. Consequently, some people are concerned that hidden stashes could one day be used by bioterrorists.

WHO is currently debating whether the two labs should destroy their smallpox stocks or continue with research? While some experts worry about an accidental leak, resulting in new outbreaks, others say that the only way to respond to a bioterrorist attack is to continue with research, which would mean preserving current stocks. Whatever WHO decides is academic anyway, because the USA and Russia can choose to ignore the recommendations - they are not binding.

Although the smallpox virus is tough and can survive for several months and even years, most experts say it is highly unlikely a period of 130 years poses any risk to human health.

Historians believe smallpox emerged in humans approximately 10,000 BC. The pustular rash found on the mummified body of Pharaoh Ramses V of Egypt is the first physical evidence of probable smallpox. At the end of the 18th century smallpox is thought to have killed at least 400,000 people in Europe - between 20% and 60% of infected people died (80% of infected children died). According to the WHO, between 300 and 500 million people died in the 20th century from smallpox. Out of 15 million people estimated to have become infected with smallpox in 1967, two million died.

1 comment:

Id bayangan said...

nice info...information about smallpox is very useful...thanks for share bro...

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