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Semin Neurol 2002; 22(1): 095-098
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-33052
HISTORICAL NOTE

Copyright © 2002 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel.: +1(212) 584-4662

The Smallpox Vaccine and Postvaccinal Encephalitis

Karen L. Roos1 , Nancy L. Eckerman2
  • 1John and Nancy Nelson Professor of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
  • 2Special Collection Librarian, Ruth Lilly Medical Library, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
12 August 2002 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Smallpox is one of the deadliest infectious diseases in history. The discovery by Edward Jenner that inoculation with a droplet of pus from a cow with cowpox protected a person from smallpox resulted in the successful vaccination of millions of people. There were, however, complications associated with smallpox vaccination; the most serious complication was postvaccinal encephalitis, which was reported to occur with an incidence of 1 in 110,000 vaccinations and a case-fatality rate of 50%. Before we become complacent with the idea that we will respond to a bioterrorism attack with a mass immunization program for smallpox, it is important to be reminded of the risk and clinical manifestations of postvaccinal encephalitis and the efficacy of antivaccinia gamma-globulin in preventing this complication. The first case of postvaccinal encephalitis as a complication of the Jennerian cowpox inoculation was observed in 1905. A century later, there is no effective therapy.

KEYWORDS

Smallpox - postvaccinal encephalitis - antivaccinia gamma-globulin - history of medicine

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