Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) - With a U.S.-led strike against Iraq looking more probable, Israel will decide very soon whether or not to inoculate its entire population against smallpox, health and defense officials said on Monday.

Intelligence experts believe that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein may have obtained the deadly virus with the intent of using it as a biological weapon.

They also believe that Israel is a likely target for a retaliatory attack if the U.S. strikes Iraq. At least 39 Iraqi Scud missiles slammed into Israel during the first Gulf War in 1991.

According to a CIA document recently released for publication, Saddam Hussein wanted to use biological weapons against Israel in 1991, but his plan was thwarted in its early stages, Israel Radio reported on Monday.

Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said in a radio interview on Monday that Israel is more prepared than ever for an Iraqi attack but it must "brace for any development." He added that if U.S. strikes Iraq "there will be risks for Israel."

Dr. Boaz Lev, Director General of the Ministry of Health, said in a telephone interview on Monday that a joint decision between Health Ministry officials and cabinet members would be made "in the near future" on whether or not to vaccinate the entire population against smallpox.

The decision will take into consideration things such as the side effects and alternative programs, Lev said.

Defense Ministry Director General Amos Yaron said earlier in a radio interview that the decision would be made on whether to wait until there is an outbreak of the highly contagious disease, which can be deadly, or to immunize the entire population before the need arises. He also said there was enough vaccine on hand.

Lev said that personally he favors a gradual immunization program that ultimately will bring Israel to a state where everyone is totally vaccinated.

This would take place over several months to a year and create a "herd immunity" that would prevent epidemics from occurring, Lev said in a telephone interview.

If there were no need to vaccinate the population, then it is better not to do so. "If there is a threat, the risk overcomes the side effects," he said.

No vaccines or immunizations are currently mandatory in Israel and this one will not be either. But the Ministry of Health will begin a campaign to explain the benefits of the immunization to the public, he said.

The government decided in August to inoculate emergency service personnel on the front lines and health ministry workers. Some 15,000 of them have already received the vaccine during the last few months.

Only one case was reported where a spouse became ill after her husband received the vaccine, Lev said. She was treated and recovered.

In 1978, Israel stopped inoculating children against the virus. A year later, the World Health Organization declared that smallpox had been eradicated.

Nevertheless, small stocks of the disease were kept in the U.S. and the former Soviet Union. It has never been clear what happened to the Soviet stocks after the fall of the Soviet Union. There are fears that some of that supply may have made its way into Saddam Hussein´s hands. (copyright 1998-2002 Cybercast News Service. 12/23/02)