Editor's Summary

9 February 2006

Smallpox virus: be prepared

Several countries are stockpiling smallpox vaccine as a precaution against the possible use of vaccinia virus as a bioweapon. But although the vaccine is extremely effective at preventing smallpox infection, little is known about its efficacy as post-exposure vaccination in humans or in primates. A study in monkeys exposed to monkeypox virus shows that early treatment with antiviral drugs such as cidofovir is more effective than vaccination in reducing death rate and disease. Monkeypox is the 'monkey equivalent' of smallpox, so these data indicate that the use of antiviral drugs should be considered as an alternative or additional strategy for bioterrorist preparedness against smallpox.

Letter: Antiviral treatment is more effective than smallpox vaccination upon lethal monkeypox virus infection

Koert J. Stittelaar, Johan Neyts, Lieve Naesens, Geert van Amerongen, Rob F. van Lavieren, Antonin Holý, Erik De Clercq, Hubert G. M. Niesters, Edwin Fries, Chantal Maas, Paul G. H. Mulder, Ben A. M. van der Zeijst and Albert D. M. E. Osterhaus

doi:10.1038/nature04295

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