Purpose
- The risk for a release of smallpox is low, but the effects of such an event could be devastating.
- Public health departments can use the guidance below to plan for a smallpox emergency.
Why it's important
Although smallpox no longer occurs naturally, the threat of smallpox remains. There are concerns that variola virus, the virus that causes smallpox, may exist outside of the two World Health Organization (WHO)-designated collaborating centers in the United States and Russia. The risk for an intentional or accidental release of the smallpox virus is believed to be low, but the effects of such an event could be devastating. These potential consequences make planning for a smallpox emergency critical.
Community-based planning for a smallpox emergency
Guidance for local and state health departments for smallpox emergency planning
Actions healthcare facilities will need to take in a smallpox emergency