Post-Event Operational Issues

Public Health Response to a Confirmed Smallpox Case

Requiring that all suspected smallpox cases be immediately reportable to public health authorities will assist with more rapid implementation of control measures required for that case and their contacts and will help define the scope of the outbreak. Mandatory varicella case reporting will help prevent confusion that can occur with simultaneous outbreaks of these two febrile rash illnesses and may help identify smallpox cases that were initially believed to be varicella cases.

Investigation of cases will be very detailed in the early phases of the outbreak to help define the mode of exposure and the population at immediate risk but may become more simplified and targeted towards assisting with contact identification and tracing later if ongoing transmission is occurring. 

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