After the eradication of smallpox

After the eradication of Smallpox!

Even though a deadline of 1993 was set two sanctioned repositories still remain. The WHO however has repeatedly pushed back the date due to pressure from developed countries; these include United States, who want to continue research on the virus.  However it is developing countries that would probably bear the brunt of any accidental release have long backed the destruction plan. They believe that Smallpox research is a dangerous luxury, as accidental release could be catastrophic. This has previously occurred when a photographer at Birmingham university accidently got the virus on her skin and died.  (BBC.2011)

Many scientists also argue that destroying the stocks would do little to protect the world from Smallpox, because it is now possible to recreate the virus from its genome. (naturenews.2011). If this is the case then there really is no need to keep the virus. Even though there are only a small amount of Labs that have the skills and resources to do so there are still labs that have the skills to do this more labs in fact than the number of known countries to have stocks of the Smallpox Virus.

For these reasons I strongly believe that Smallpox is not needed for the use of medical research and therefore should be destroyed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/smallpox_01.shtml

http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110513/full/news.2011.288.html

Show lessBBC - History - British History in depth: Smallpox: Eradicating the Scourgebbc.co.uk