Bioterrorism and smallpox planning: information and voluntary vaccination

Area of Science:

• Biosecurity and Public Health
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• International Relations

Background:

• Smallpox was eradicated globally in 1980.
• Concerns exist regarding former Soviet Union smallpox virus stocks potentially acquired by rogue states or terrorists.
• Bioterrorism fears have initiated discussions on public smallpox vaccination, despite vaccine risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To inform public and individual decision-making regarding smallpox vaccination.
• To assess the necessity of intelligence community briefings for public discourse on smallpox bioterrorism.
• To evaluate the role of threat assessment in public health policy debates.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of bioterrorism risks associated with smallpox virus.
• Review of public health policy implications of potential smallpox weaponization.
• Assessment of information requirements for public deliberation and individual decision-making.

Main Results:

• Public and private decision-making on smallpox vaccination necessitates accurate threat assessments.
• Intelligence community expertise is vital for evaluating the likelihood of smallpox virus use as a weapon.
• Informed debate requires data on the probability of bioterrorist attacks.

Conclusions:

• Effective public health strategies for bioterrorism preparedness require intelligence-informed risk assessments.
• The intelligence community plays a critical role in providing data for public health policy and individual choices.
• Addressing smallpox bioterrorism concerns necessitates a coordinated approach involving public health, security, and intelligence sectors.