Can you get smallpox in the UK?

Smallpox was declared eradicated worldwide by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1980. There have been no known cases of naturally occurring smallpox since then. However, smallpox virus samples are held in secure laboratories around the world for research purposes. There is a theoretical risk of smallpox being released accidentally or intentionally, but this risk is considered very low.

In the United Kingdom, there is no risk of contracting smallpox from the general population. The UK government has a comprehensive vaccination program in place to protect against a number of infectious diseases, including smallpox. The smallpox vaccine is only offered to certain high-risk groups, such as laboratory workers who handle smallpox virus samples.