Dr. Evil[SMTP:drevil@sidereal.kz] wrote:

...

I would not count on the 18th century cowpox/smallpox coupling to be valid today - viruses evolve, and that's not counting deliberate manipulations intended to produce more virulent strains.

I was thinking about this some more, and I wonder if cowpox still exists in the wild.

Sheesh. One thing that continually bugs me on this list is people asking questions which can be anwered by a couple minutes research. Google is your friend. Peter Trei ------------------------------------- http://www.kcom.edu/faculty/chamberlain/Website/tritzid/cowpox.htm DISEASE NAME: Cowpox (Vaccinia) ETIOLOGICAL AGENT: Cowpox virus. This is a pox virus that is antigenically similar to present vaccinia strains. DISEASE MANIFESTATIONS: Natural cowpox is no longer present in the U.S. However, it is still found in other parts of the world, especially England. It should not be confused with pseudocowpox (also known as milker's nodules or paravaccinia). It is found in both cattle and horses where it infects the udder and teats of the animals. It is spread by direct contact to humans. In the human it presents as a papulovesiculogranulomatous skin lesion at the inoculation site. It does not spread to other body parts from the initial lesion, which is usually located on the hand or fingers. TREATMENT: It is usually self limiting and no treatment is indicated except in immunocompromised patients. Then methisazone can be used.