Smallpox Information for Public Health Officials

West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Smallpox: Information for Public Health Officials

Virus

No natural reservoir anywhere in the world
Implications for investigation: Case is BT until proven otherwise (i.e., lab accident)
Incubation period: 7-17 days
Person-to-person transmission by droplets > contact with contaminated clothing and bedding > aerosol
Mortality: 30% in pre-erradication era
Environmental: not environmentally hardy.
Prophylaxis: vaccine is effective if administered within 72 hours of exposure
Treatment: none

CDC
Implications: Hospital personnel must be trained in recognition of smallpox so that persons are presumptively isolated.

Vaccine and personal protective equipment recommended for persons who will have contact with smallpox-infected individuals
Contraindications (pre-event – not a comprehensive list):
- immunosuppression, eczema or exfoliative skin condition, or pregnancy in vaccine candidate OR household member of vaccine candidate
- Age < 18
- Vaccine component allergy
Employees who will have face-to-face contact with smallpox patients MUST have been vaccinated (with documented take) AND fit-tested with an N-95 mask. In addition, contact precautions (gloves, gown) are required.

Recognition / reporting / case-finding + airborne and contact isolation of cases
Contact tracing and ring vaccination
Collect and analyze risk information to identify source AND
- identify the exposed population to be place under surveillance AND
- identify household contacts of exposed so they can be vaccinated

Physicians: recognition / reporting / isolation / employee health
ICPs: reporting, active surveillance procedures / vaccination / isolation / employee health
Labs: procedure for referral of specimens to CDC.
Local health departments, regional epidemiologists: Investigation / vaccination / isolation/ employee health
IDEP / DSDC / BPH: employee health / investigation / isolation / vaccination / priorities for prevention and control