Posted on 04/27/2004 11:34:08 PM PDT by neverdem
Researchers at the U. S. Army laboratories at Fort Detrick in Frederick reported a major advance yesterday in the search for a safer smallpox vaccine.
An experimental vaccine made from pieces of the live virus currently used as a smallpox vaccine protected monkeys against monkeypox, their version of the fatal illness. The protection was not absolute -- the animals got mildly ill and developed the characteristic pox rash -- but it was good enough to keep them from dying.
The federal government currently vaccinates many members of the military against smallpox, a disease that was eradicated 26 years ago but that some experts believe might be used as bioterrorism weapon. Both federal and state governments have urged hospitals to vaccinate a small number of physicians, nurses and technicians as the first step in homeland defense against the infection.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
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