The Debate 

Last stocks of the variola (smallpox) virus still exist and are being held in The United States and Russia. The live virus stocks have been frozen and are held in secure laboratories by the two countries which helped to fund the World Health Organization's eradication programme, in 1967. Hammond and Ching (2011) give a detailed background on the last known stocks. It is obvious in this paper that neither country wishes to destroy the held virus, and is fueled by political security as oposed to public health. The risk is ultimately higher than the gain towards human life. Both countries do not wish to admit their true reasoning for not destroying the virus but it seems that their justifications for holding onto it have been exhausted. There is no need to hold this virus for animal model or research as a non-variola surrogate model can be used.  


Hammond, E and Ching Li, L. (2011) Smallpox Virus Stocks at the 64th WHA: Implementing the Conclusions of the Major Review. Switzerland: Third World Network.

Hammond, E and Ching, L (2011) Smallpox Virus Stocks at the 64th WHA: Implementing the Conclusions of the Major Review. Switzerland: Third World Network. [Online]. Available from:
http://twnside.org.sg/title2/briefing_papers/twn/Briefing_Smallpox_2011.pdf [Accessed 25th March 2012].