Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

[Smallpox--historical or real threat].

Andrzej Zieliński1, Paweł Stefanoff

  • 1Zakład Epidemiologii Państwowego Zakładu Higieny.

Przeglad Epidemiologiczny
|April 6, 2005
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

How Is Lebanon's Progress Towards Measles Elimination? Review of Surveillance Performance Indicators, 2013-2024.

Epidemiologia (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same author

[Changes in the diagnostic panorama after the Patient Choice Reform - a retrospective study of diagnosis registrations in Swedish primary health care].

Lakartidningen·2026
Same author

Measles Outbreak Driven by Nosocomial Transmission, Armenia, February-July 2023.

Emerging infectious diseases·2026
Same author

Knowledge and Support for Antimicrobial Stewardship Does Not Necessarily Translate into Good Practice: Survey in a Tertiary Hospital in Moldova, May-June 2024.

Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)·2025
Same author

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Paediatricians in the West Bank, Palestine, Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination Among Children Younger than 12 Years: A Cross-Sectional Study, October to November 2023.

Vaccines·2025
Same author

Identifying Gaps and Challenges in Acute Hepatitis B Surveillance in the Country of Georgia: Comprehensive Surveillance System Evaluation.

JMIR public health and surveillance·2025

Smallpox virus poses no natural re-emergence threat but could be a biological weapon. Safer vaccines are needed for strategic prophylactic vaccination plans against potential smallpox outbreaks.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Smallpox was eradicated globally over 25 years ago.
  • Concerns exist regarding the deliberate re-emergence of smallpox virus as a biological weapon.
  • Previous epidemic models relied on unrealistic assumptions for intervention effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To address the strategic planning for prophylactic vaccinations in the context of potential smallpox re-emergence.
  • To highlight the limitations of current smallpox vaccines and the need for safer alternatives.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on smallpox eradication, biological weapon threats, and vaccine technology.
  • Analysis of theoretical models for epidemic control and their underlying assumptions.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Discussion of current vaccine stocks, adverse event profiles, and development of next-generation vaccines.

    • Main Results:

    • Natural re-emergence of smallpox is highly unlikely.
    • Theoretical models for epidemic control may not be feasible due to unrealistic assumptions.
    • Existing smallpox vaccines have significant adverse events and limited availability.
    • Development of safer, next-generation smallpox vaccines is underway.

    Conclusions:

    • Strategic prophylactic vaccination plans are necessary to mitigate risks associated with potential smallpox weaponization.
    • Defining target vaccination groups and timing (pre- or post-outbreak) is crucial for effective public health response.
    • Investment in and development of safer vaccines are essential for future smallpox preparedness.