What are the symptoms? Fever, headache, backache, vomiting and a progressive deep-seated skin rash.

How is it spread? It is most commonly spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing. The rash is also contagious until it clears up which may take up to 3 weeks.

Is there any treatment? There is currently no treatment for the disease but it can be prevented through the use of smallpox vaccine.

What is the smallpox vaccine? The vaccine is made from a live virus called vaccinia or "cow pox" which is related to smallpox but cannot cause smallpox. There is currently enough vaccine to vaccinate all US citizens.

Should I get vaccinated against smallpox? The vaccine is not available to the general public at this time. Routine vaccination of Americans stopped in 1972 after the disease was eradicated in the United States. Smallpox was eliminated from the world in 1977. Some healthcare workers will be offered the vaccine later this year.

If I was ever vaccinated am I still protected? Experience shows that the vaccine only protects for 3 – 5 years with decreasing immunity after that.

Why is there talk of smallpox now? After 9/11/01, the government began to take precautions against possible bioterrorism events. For smallpox this includes creating a smallpox emergency response plan.

Is the Torrington Area Health District (TAHD) creating a smallpox emergency response plan? Yes. Connecticut has been divided into 41 regions. The TAHD is responsible for Region 9, with 127,000 residents in 20 cities and towns in NW Connecticut. Staff at the TAHD currently meet weekly with officials from area agencies to create an emergency smallpox response plan. More information will be released as the plan is written. Eventually this will be expanded to include an all hazards approach to emergency preparedness.

Where can I go for more information? You can contact the TAHD at 860-489-0436 or TAHD.org; the State Department of Health at dph.state.ct.us; or the Federal Center for Disease Control at cdc.gov .