Maybe smallpox wasn't so bad after all?

Found a link to the following article in my ASCP "Daily Diagnosis" e-mail newsletter.

The worldwide eradication of smallpox may, inadvertently, have helped spread HIV infection, scientists believe.

Experts say the vaccine used to wipe out smallpox offered some protection against the Aids virus and, now it is no longer used, HIV has flourished.

For reals?

To test if the events may be linked, the researchers looked at the white blood cells taken from people recently immunised against smallpox and tested how they responded to HIV.

They found significantly lower replication rates of HIV in blood cells from vaccinated individuals, compared with those from unvaccinated controls.

The smallpox vaccine appeared to cut HIV replication five-fold.

How?

The researchers believe vaccination may offer some protection against HIV by producing long-term alterations in the immune system, possibly including the expression of a receptor called CCR5 on the surface of white blood cells, which is exploited by the smallpox virus and HIV.

I wonder if it's possible to revive the smallpox vaccination program. Immunize those most at risk for the disease and then see if we can detect a drop in HIV rates of infection.

If you are an anti-vaxxer ...

... your stupidity can lead to further instances like this poor girl. Infection with H1N1, complications, pneumonia, further complications. And then I read this ...

About a third of U.S. parents oppose the H1N1 vaccine, despite government efforts to encourage it, according to an Associated Press-GfK released last week.

You're GOT to be kidding me. These are the lives of your children you're gambling with folks!

Speaking about vaccines ...

... check out the following vaccination campaign.

Every Child By Two.

Hey, people ...

... vaccinate your children, damnit.

“When more than 10 percent of a community opts out of vaccinations, it leaves the entire community at risk because germs have a greater chance of causing an epidemic,” said Dr. Ari Brown, an Austin, Texas, pediatrician who represents the American Academy of Pediatrics.

More from Morbidity and Mortality, a CDC publication (pdf, 36 pages).

During January 1–July 31, 2008, 131 measles cases were reported to CDC from 15 states and the District of Columbia (DC): Illinois (32 cases), New York (27), Washington (19), Arizona (14), California (14), Wisconsin (seven), Hawaii (five), Michigan (four), Arkansas (two), and DC, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Virginia (one each). Seven measles outbreaks (i.e., three or more cases linked in time or place) accounted for 106 (81%) of the cases. Fifteen of the patients (11%) were hospitalized, including four children aged
< 15 months. No deaths were reported.