# 4703
This morning, while making my regular rounds of infectious disease news reports, I came across a couple of headlines notable for their regrettable lack of accuracy.
Woman gets smallpox after sex with soldier beau - Sify
Woman contracts smallpox from recently vaccinated man – VaccineDailyNews
These articles both state that a woman contracted smallpox after having sexual relations with a recently vaccinated soldier.
The only trouble is, it isn’t exactly true.
The smallpox vaccine doesn’t contain the smallpox virus, and so you can’t get smallpox from it.
It is made from the vaccinia virus instead, which while a `pox virus’, is far milder and safer to use (although, as a live virus, it is not completely without risk – see CDC site below).
Lest anyone think this is a distinction without difference, vaccinia is to smallpox as a common cold is to bird flu.
In other words, worlds of difference in severity.
And in a society with a growing mistrust of vaccines, we owe it to ourselves to report these stories with as much accuracy and detail as possible.
Despite these somewhat sensational headlines, there hasn’t been a case of smallpox recorded anywhere in the world in more than 30 years.
In fairness, in both of the articles above, further down in the text of their reports they begin calling this a `vaccinia’ infection instead of smallpox. But first impressions are generally the most lasting.
These news accounts have been spurred by last week’s MMWR (an interesting read, btw).
Vaccinia Virus Infection After Sexual Contact with a Military Smallpox Vaccinee --- Washington, 2010
The CDC maintains a website on smallpox vaccinations and the risks of vaccinia infection.
The Live Virus Smallpox Vaccine
The vaccinia virus is the "live virus" used in the smallpox vaccine. It is a "pox"-type virus related to smallpox. When given to humans as a vaccine, it helps the body to develop immunity to smallpox. The smallpox vaccine does not contain the smallpox virus and it cannot cause smallpox.
What is a "live virus" vaccine?
- A "live virus" vaccine is a vaccine that contains a "living" virus that is able to give and produce immunity, usually without causing illness.
- Because the virus in the smallpox vaccine is live, it can be transmitted to other parts of the body or to other people and so the site must be cared for carefully.
- For most people with healthy immune systems, live virus vaccines are effective and safe.
- Sometimes a person getting a live vaccine experiences mild symptoms associated with the virus in the vaccine.
- Other live virus vaccines used include measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox.
Facts about vaccinia
- The vaccinia virus, the virus in the smallpox vaccine, is another "pox"-type virus.
- Vaccinia is related to smallpox, but milder.
- The vaccinia virus may cause rash, fever, and head and body aches. In certain groups of people, complications from the vaccinia virus can be severe.
- Vaccinia is spread by touching a vaccination site before it has healed or by touching bandages or clothing that have been contaminated with live virus from the smallpox vaccination site.
- This way, vaccinia can spread to other parts of the body or to other individuals. This is called inadvertent inoculation.
- In the past, spreading to other parts of the vaccine recipients’ body was the more common form of inadvertent inoculation.
- Careful care must be taken of the site of the vaccine to prevent spreading of the vaccinia virus.
The New York Times and Businessweek managed to convey the story with considerably more accuracy with:
Risks: Smallpox Vaccine and Sexual Contact
By RONI CARYN RABIN
Published: July 5, 2010
Sex With Recent Smallpox Vaccine Recipient Can Lead to Illness
Steven Reinberg
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