The last outbreaks of smallpox in France.

The last cases of smallpox in France occurred between 1942 and 1955 during six outbreaks responsible for a total of 295 cases and 29 deaths, The prima ry cases were patients from the Maghreb, Indochina, and Cambodia. The outbr eaks spread rapidly as a result of inadequate immunization of the civilian population and of delayed diagnosis of the primary cases resulting in delay s in instituting prophylactic measures. Secondary cases occurred mainly wit hin hospitals and families. Modern treatment methods limited the severity o f the outbreaks. Although smallpox has now been eradicated worldwide, histo ry shows that grave consequences would result from an outbreak of an orthop oxvirus infection in a nonimmunized population.