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NEW THIS MONDAY: 14 ITEMS ON SMALLPOX

Sunday, 4th of August 2013

• FOUR TECHNICAL OFFICE VACANCIES, EPI, WHO HQ

http://www.technet-21.org/index.php/resources/jobs?acm=2150_293

Cross posted, with thanks, from Technet21.org

 

• NEW THIS MONDAY: 14 ITEMS ON SMALLPOX

Your large response to the obituary on Ali Maow Maalin has led me to run a series on smallpox. Dr. Abderrahmane Ba, formerly of W.H.O./Somalia, has fond memories of Ali, who went around with a megaphone publicizing the polio SIAs. I myself met Ali once, in ’88; he kindly autographed my copy of the W.H.O. smallpox history.

Today’s postings start with first person accounts by eight participants in the global smallpox effort, then the Wikipedia account of the life and death of Ali. The massive W.H.O. history of smallpox and its eradication is now on the Internet; the link is here. So, from Microbiological Reviews, is a 1983 article, a mere 50 pages, on the same subject. There are  also  weblinks to the CDC  surveillance guidelines and CDC guidance on intentional release of the smallpox virus.

S. Bhattacharya, of the Wellcome Trust, has written prolifically on smallpox. His contributions are accessible at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=bhattacharya+and+smallpox

For those with historical interests, there is one item on Lady Wortley Montagu and variolation. The Wikipedia has an extended discussion on variolation, a practice which died out only in the 20^th century.  

Finally, there is a case report on vaccinia necrosum (progressive vaccinia) in a US military vaccinee. Is the US policy of vaccinating military recruits based on a balance of risk against benefit, or is it based on fear?

Good reading.

BD

FIRST PERSON ACCOUNTS:   

• D.A. Henderson on Smallpox and its Eradication
• http://www.childsurvival.net/?content=com_articles&artid=2127
• William Foege on Smallpox Eradication
• http://www.childsurvival.net/?content=com_articles&artid=1261
• Larry Brilliant on Smallpox Eradication
• http://www.childsurvival.net/?content=com_articles&artid=927
• Lawrence K. Altman on Smallpox Eradication
• http://www.childsurvival.net/?content=com_articles&artid=776
• Bhattacharya et al. on Smallpox Eradication and Polio Eradication in India
• http://www.childsurvival.net/?content=com_articles&artid=464
• Abdullahi Deria on smallpox eradication in Somalia
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22185834
• Stanley O. Foster et al. on smallpox eradication in Bangladesh
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22188934
• Ciro de Quadros on experiences with smallpox eradication in Ethiopia
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22486979

The Life of Ali Maow Maalin, the Last Naturally Occurring Case of Smallpox in the World

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Maow_Maalin

F. Fenner, D. A. Henderson, et al., Smallpox and its Eradication (Geneva: W.H.O., 1988)

http://whqlibdoc.who.int/smallpox/9241561106.pdf

The Smallpox Story: Life and Death of an Old Disease

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC281588/?page=1

Smallpox: Surveillance and Investigation

http://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/surveillance/

Lady Wortley Montagu and Variolation

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/smallpox/sp_variolation.html

Vaccinia necrosum (progressive vaccinia) in a US military vaccinee, 2009

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5819a5.htm