The possibility of "weapons of mass destruction" (WMD) use in this country to harm Americans, including emergency responders, presents a genuine threat. Advances in technology assist the development and spread of biological weapons. Smallpox, an old disease, was used as a weapon in the past and is a viable security threat today. Part of the threat is the limited supplies of vaccine. This limit diminishes the capabilities of the U.S. to defend the homeland. The threat is further validated with recent reported outbreaks of smallpox cases in Russia, lending credence to the possible spread of the virus by accidental releases. The CDC ordered new vaccine in an effort to defend against an outbreak and protect the most vulnerable people. These actions provide convincing evidence the U.S. is taking the threat seriously.