ABSTRACT
On December 9, 2002, 20 cases of smallpox are confirmed in Oklahoma and additional cases are suspected in Georgia and Pennsylvania (Fictitious cases) [1]. As smallpox virus was eradicated in 1980, except for two high-security scientific laboratories, it is presumed that a bioterrorist attack has almost certainly occurred, but from where-an international source or domestic? The National Security Council (NRC) meets to plan strategy. Containment must primarily be by vaccination as there are no useful therapeutic agents, but there are only 12M doses of smallpox vaccine stockpiled. Among the most immediate decisions to be made are to determine who to vaccinate, where, and how. It is known that smallpox is highly infectious and it is anticipated that one-third of patients will die. What do you tell the public?
