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American Morning

CDC Prepares for Potential Smallpox Threat

Aired November 05, 2001 - 11:14   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Here in the city of Atlanta, CDC workers are being vaccinated against smallpox as the government tries to pull together enough vaccine to protect every person in the country -- 300,000,000.

More now on the CDC and smallpox from our medical correspondent, Rhonda Rowland who is live this morning from Atlanta. Good morning, Rhonda.

RHONDA ROWLAND, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well good morning to you, Bill.

And as you said, teams of disease trackers here at the CDC are indeed getting prepared in case there is a biological attack with smallpox. They are being vaccinated.

In addition to that, CDC employees, doctors, who were part of the global eradication process back in the 1970s, have been called out of retirement to come in and teach these new teams how to recognize the disease, how to do testing, how to use the new vaccine. So that will be taking place this week.

Also, at the same time, to try to expand a current stockpile of 15 million vaccine doses, there's a study going on at four medical centers to see if it can be stretched to cover about 75 million people. Also, at the same time, federal health officials are negotiating with vaccine makers to come with a new second-generation vaccine, to try to come up with 300 million doses by the end of next year. So, in case the smallpox vaccine is ever needed, there will be enough for everyone.

And, Bill, on another note: Just back to the Mayo Clinic -- anthrax quick test -- we did heard from the CDC that officials here are consulting with the Mayo Clinic about the test. But the CDC has not yet validated that particular test. That will be very important because, as you know, the CDC is overseeing all of the testing for anthrax -- Bill.

HEMMER: And indeed, if they could perfect that technology, would indeed be a help to many across the country now.

Rhonda, thank you -- Rhonda Rowland at the CDC in Atlanta.

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