Dutch health service is asked to draw up smallpox contingency plans

The Dutch Ministry of Health has written to all local health services asking them to complete contingency plans by April for the mass vaccination against smallpox of the Dutch population of 16 million.

It has told all 39 municipal health services that although there is “no actual threat of an outbreak of smallpox” the “current political instability in the world” means that a “a high priority” should be given to preparing for an outbreak, possibly on a large scale.

The mass vaccination option is just one part of plans to counter bioterrorism being drawn up by the National Coordination Centre for …