5 ms·
If potential disasters were actively getting stopped, they'd be documented. I think it's just that nobody has both the ability and desire to destroy the world
by flingo 8y ago
If potential disasters were actively getting stopped, they'd be documented.
I think it's just that nobody has both the ability and desire to destroy the world at the same time.
Do we even know if smallpox would kill a modern human?
- hn_throwaway_99 8y ago> Do we even know if smallpox would kill a modern human? The last person to die of smallpox died in my lifetime. I hope I'm not so old that I'm no longer considered a "modern human".
- lkrubner 8y agoAt least in countries like the USA there is still some herd immunity. Everyone over the age of 40 was vaccinated and also some people younger than 40.
- lithos 8y agoMilitary personnel are still vaccinated.
- andy_ppp 8y agoDo we know if the vaccine works against modern “weaponised” strains of smallpox?
- felix_nagaand 8y agoVaccination would presumably be adjusted for by anyone weaponizing small pox, or any other biological wmd for that matter.
- hn_throwaway_99 8y agoNot really. First I'm over 40, and was never vaccinated. Plus, effective heard immunity requires something north of 85% of the population. Smallpox vaccination rates are not even 50%.
- bzbarsky 8y agoThat "age of 40" number is years out of date. Routine smallpox vaccination for children in the US stopped after 1971, after the disease was declared eradicated in the Americas. The vaccine was given at age 1, so people born in 1971 generally did not get it. So to get to "everyone" you have to look at people aged 47 or above.