How bad a disease is smallpox and what is the expected mortality?
Bad. The average mortality rate has been 30% depending on when the last vaccination was given, the immune status of the person, and the particular clinical form (e.g., typical (30% mortality) vs. hemorrhagic or flat/malignant smallpox (>90% mortality). In-hospital care of smallpox patients in 2002 may result in a lower mortality rate. This may be offset, however, by the larger number of immunocompromised people in the general population and the likely lack of enough hospital beds for a widespread epidemic.
