Ring of Protection

PATIENT

Exposure: Smallpox has a seven- to 17-day incubation period, in which symptoms including headaches, fever, malaise, and a rash on the hands, feet or face will start to appear.

Response: At the hospital, the patient is taken to an isolation room equipped with a negative-airflow system to contain the virus. A smallpox response team, made up of immunized health care workers, is called in to vaccinate the patient and set the ring vaccination strategy in motion.

RING 1: PRIMARY CONTACTS

Exposure: Anyone who had direct contact with the patient during the past few days, including family members, friends, co-workers or hospital staff.

Response: Direct contacts are vaccinated and told to monitor their temperature for four to five days. They are immediately quarantined if they develop a fever, even without a rash.

RING 2: SECONDARY CONTACTS

Exposure: Could include entire communities and neighborhoods, depending upon the circumstances of the outbreak. Secondary contacts could also include friends, family or co-workers of those in contact with people in Ring 1.

Response: Same measures as those taken for Ring 1.

Source: CDC and staff reports