Ireland 'not prepared for smallpox outbreak'
The Irish Medical Organisation has warned that Ireland is ill-prepared to deal with any outbreak of smallpox which could result from a terrorist attack.
The IMO’s annual conference in Co Kerry heard yesterday that the Government has stockpiled 600,000 doses of the smallpox vaccine, but the inoculation must be administered by specially trained staff and can be fatal if not taken properly.
Smallpox itself kills most of its victims within two to five days of the disease being contracted.
