The typical smallpox infected person wouldn't be at the mall -- but most likely he wouldn't be at home either. He'd be at the Emergency Room, a clinic or the hospital (all with lots of people present to be infected). And what about kids -- they'd in the same places or at daycare or at home with the other kids and Mom -- waiting for Dad. And if Dad and/or Mom are 29 or younger (not vaccinated at all) they'll be infected as well and potentially carry the infection.
Small pox is very contagious. And we don't live like we did back in the 1800's.
I am very concerned about smallpox as even a remote possibility.
"The typical smallpox infected person wouldn't be at the mall -- but most likely he wouldn't be at home either. He'd be at the Emergency Room, a clinic or the hospital (all with lots of people present to be infected)." Well the terrorist would have to agree to get smallpox and then go an emergency room. But any attending physician would recognise the small pox pretty quickly and the whole place can be quaranteened and anyone in the ER that day could be notified. Well anyway I do wish I knew more about how small pox could be spread.