[Stefan Stackhouse]

It should also be pointed out that every single child in this country is UNVACCINATED!!!!!

Most of us over 35 or so have been vaccinated, and while this was long enough ago that we might get sick, Smallpox would not kill us. The kids, on the other hand, are very vulnerable. Not only are they unvaccinated, but kids just seem to always be getting sick anyway. Since lots of kids don't have stay-at-home moms anymore, quite commonly kids won't be kept home from school for every little sniffle, so it is quite possible that not only could large numbers of kids become infected initially by tainted candy, but lots of them could be sent to school when they were just starting to come down with the earliest symptoms in the morning, and by afternoon they would be sick enough to have already infected the entire school.

How would they get the candy to the kids? Returning the tainted candy to the store shelves is one possibility. Leaving large wholesale boxes of candy at the front doors of schools in the early hours of 10/31, with a note stating that this is a gift from some local business could be another plausible strategy. Just driving by and tossing candy at groups of kids during the day and early evening would probably also work.

We are potentially looking at up to 30% mortality of the kids in whatever areas get hit. The mere thought of this is staggering. And what would be the consequences following the deaths of thousands, possibly many tens of thousands of children's deaths?

[CathyRyan]

All they really have to do is get the kids to just pick up the candy and look at it. A lot of kids would not wash their hands after handling it and later would bush their nose, eat something with their hands etc. just my opinion.

[Father Wu]

The earliest symptoms of smallpox appear 10-12 days after the disease is contracted. It would probably take a few weeks.

[SarahW]

Tell me about it. My homeschooled son, who is 10, right now has symptoms right now that could be an ordinary viral bug, (I actually don't feel well myself, and I have an unusual purply rash on my face) But, all his symptoms are consistent with the early stages of smallpox.

While of course the chances of him having been exposed to smallpox virus is vanishingly small, it's still frightening to have a child come down with *anything* right now. If smallpox virus were used as a weapon, some child, somewhere, would have to be the first. I feel a fear no fever has ever inspired before.

I won't sleep easily again until my child can be vaccinated for smallpox.

[rightofrush]

And what would be the consequences following the deaths of thousands, possibly many tens of thousands of children's deaths?

A lot of sand gets turned to glass.

[countrydummy]

Sorry Stefan, that Doc that was on Fox today, and one that was on Friday says our vaccines are not any good! About a month ago I got and email telling of a terrible disease being spread through some form of a spongue in the mail....looked it up and of course it was a hoax. However, anthrax is flying around everywhere in the mail!

[callisto]

"Most of us over 35 or so have been vaccinated, and while this was long enough ago that we might get sick, Smallpox would not kill us."

From my understanding after hearing a health expert on Fox last week or so, the vaccinations any of us received prior to the 80's was only good for approximately 12 years. He specifically said that they expect none of them to be good anymore.

[Freedom of Speech Wins]

Is it really true that people vaccinated for smallpox over ten years ago wouldn't die from it? Where does that info. come from?