Bush requests BBC smallpox MOVIE to push VACCINES

[Guest guest]

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Wednesday, February 06, 2002 11:23 PM

Bush requests BBC smallpox drama

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/entertainment/tv_and_radio/newsid_1804000/18046\

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Bush requests BBC smallpox drama

BBC News

Wednesday, 6 February, 2002, 16:14 GMT

 

US President George Bush has requested a copy of BBC Two's Smallpox 2002

programme after a leading scientist told him about the making of the drama.

 

Dr DA Henderson worked closely with programme makers to create a

drama-documentary about the effects of a bioterrorist attack on the world.

 

Dr Henderson was aboard Bush's Air Force One plane on Tuesday to help promote

the president's renewed stance against bioterrorism.

Mr Bush is hoping to persuade Congress to devote $6bn (£4.2bn) to prepare

defences against possible biological warfare, including vaccines for up to 20

million people.

 

The scientist, who was a key advisor on the drama which was broadcast on Tuesday

night, chatted to Mr Bush about the making of Smallpox 2002 - Silent Weapon.

 

Mr Bush said he was extremely interested in the project and would be keen to

watch it himself.

 

Vaccine programme

 

The BBC is hurriedly ensuring a copy reaches him as soon as possible.

 

A BBC spokesman said: " Dr DA Henderson was on Air Force One, heading the launch

of the billion dollar US vaccine programme when he happened to mention about

Smallpox 2002.

 

" President Bush said he would like to see it for himself. "

 

In the UK the show has been hailed a ratings success after 3.4 million viewers

tuned in.

 

A spokesman for the programme said the team were delighted the drama had reached

such a wide audience for BBC Two.

 

Fact and fiction were deliberately blurred during the 90 minute broadcast which

followed the effects of a smallpox virus which was unleashed in the US before

being transferred to the UK.

 

It covered the first deaths in contemporary New York to an eventual global

pandemic killing 60 million people.

 

Anthrax

 

The programme was backed was the BBC's current affairs department and worked on

by some of the world's leading experts on bio-terrorism, including Dr Henderson

of the US-based Centers for Disease Control.

 

The drama used a strong documentary-style to lend it a realistic edge, although

the disease was virtually wiped out in 1979.

 

The film actually went into production two years ago, long before the anthrax

outbreak in the US which sparked fears of the start of biological warfare.

 

" Smallpox 2002 is undoubtedly a frightening film, but behind it lies a clear

purpose, " said producer Simon Chinn.

 

" In its vivid and realistic portrayal of a devastating bio-terrorist assault, it

raises serious questions - and should generate an urgent national debate - about

our ability to defend against one of real threats to our security, post-11

September, " he added.

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

I am confused on why they are so paranoid about smallpox being the next

weapon against us. I never saw any sign that this would be used....there are

other diseases they could use also, and I doubt it would be one that we have

a vaccine for. Whats everyones views on this? Just a ploy from the government

to get more money for vaccines?

 

Erin