ABSTRACT
Human infections with vaccinia virus (VACV), mostly from laboratory accidents or contact with infected animals, have occurred since smallpox was eradicated in 1980. No recent cases have been reported in China. We report on an outbreak of VACV from occupational exposure to rabbit skins inoculated with VACV.
Subject(s)
Disease Outbreaks , Occupational Exposure , Vaccinia virus , Vaccinia/epidemiology , Vaccinia/virology , Accidents, Occupational , Adult , Animals , China/epidemiology , Genes, Viral , History, 21st Century , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Phylogeny , Rabbits , Vaccinia/history , Vaccinia/transmission , Vaccinia virus/classification , Vaccinia virus/genetics , Young AdultSubject(s)
Antibodies, Viral/administration & dosage , Immunoglobulins/administration & dosage , Vaccination/history , Vaccinia virus/immunology , Vaccinia/history , Antibodies, Viral/biosynthesis , History, 20th Century , Humans , Immunoglobulins/therapeutic use , Pediatrics/history , United States , Vaccinia/therapyABSTRACT
The fate of surviving stocks of smallpox virus is still uncertain, and it is important that arguments in favour of retention or destruction should present balanced evidence. This article balances the view, probably incorrect and possibly alarmist presented earlier in this Journal by Peter Razzell, that vaccinia and cowpox viruses were derived from smallpox virus. The generally accepted alternative view that all three viruses are independent species and that smallpox virus could not emerge through simple mutation of the other two is presented, together with appropriate literature citations.
