The argument over whether or not to destroy the last samples of smallpox continues
Today health experts and members of the World Health Organisation (WHO) will take a vote on whether or not to destroy the remaining samples of the deadly virus, of which there are only two samples left – one in Russia and one in the USA. Both are kept in laboratories in Russia’s State Research Centre for Virology and Biotechnology in Koltsovo, Novosibirsk and the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia.
What was smallpox?
Smallpox is the only viral disease to have ever been eradicated under a WHO vaccination programme set up in 1966. Smallpox was caused by the Variola virus and 30% of victims would die within two weeks of coming into contact with the virus. It was one of the most deadly diseases known to humans, killing approximately 300 million people in the 20th century.
The last known case was identified in Somalia 1977, so in 1980 it was official that smallpox had been eradicated from the world as no more cases were reported.
Why keep the virus?
Some scientists believe that even though smallpox has been eradicated there could be a need for the virus to produce vaccines in the future. Due to new advances in synthetic biology it could be possible to create new Viriola viruses that could have the same effect as before, possibly even worse. With the smallpox samples still been present labs it would be possible to create vaccines to possibly fight these new viruses if they emerge.
Other scientists disagree, Donald Henderson is an American physician and led the eradication campaign against smallpox during the 1960’s. He, along with many others, believe the virus should be destroyed, “Let’s destroy the virus and be done with it”.
The outcome of the vote will be highly controversial but either way the true consequence will not be established unless the worse should take place.
The Young Scientist 
June 26, 2014 at 20:54
There are good reasons to destroy the smallpox virus currently being held in stock, it could be considered a biological weapon. On the other hand, if the smallpox virus ever reared its head again, we may need such a virus to compare with new virus to produce vaccine.
If one looks back in time Black Death, reared its head after it was thought to have disappeared. It was the Great Fire of London, that eradicated it for ever, but one can never be 100% certain that any disease has been permanently eradicated.