Journal of Clinical Research & Bioethics

Abstract

Smallpox and Bioterrorism: History and Evaluation of Current State and Medical Knowledge

Buonsenso D, Gargiullo L, Cataldi L, Ranno O and

Introduction: Although smallpox has been declared eradicated in 1980, we still have to consider it a global threat, provided the terrorist and bioterrorist attacks of September 2001 and the ongoing precarious worldwide political situation.

Materials and Methods: We performed an email-based survey, composed of 6 YES/NO questions aimed to evaluate current basic smallpox knowledge among medical students, residents and specialists.

Results: A total of 172 people from 22 different countries replied to our email. 111 were students (64.5%), 38 residents (22.1%), and 23 specialists (13.4%). More than half participants (54.6%) stated they had never had a lecture on smallpox during medical school and showed lack of knowledge about basic concepts that could be useful in the event of a bioterrorist attack (recognition of typical lesions, natural history, differential diagnosis, and treatment). Moreover, medical students showed a significant lower knowledge if compared to graduates regarding basic smallpox clinical questions (P<0.05).

Conclusions: Our findings support the hypothesis that since its eradication, there has been a general decay of basic smallpox knowledge. These observations rise concerns on medical preparedness to respond to a bioterrorist attack.