http://www.mercola.com/2001/dec/1/smallpox.htm
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US
Will Be Retaining Smallpox Stocks
The threat of bioterrorism has apparently
convinced the Bush administration that it should retain the nation's stock of
smallpox virus - one of only two official repositories for smallpox samples
in the world. The administration argued that the samples may be
needed to help develop new drug treatments and vaccines against the disease. The decision is a sensible response to the small
but frightening risk that a rogue nation or terrorist group might obtain the
virus and unleash it. Smallpox was eradicated as a disease more
than two decades ago, and all remaining stocks of the virus were supposed to
be transferred to two official repositories designated by the World Health
Organization, one in Russia and one in the United States. Debate then ensued over whether even these
stocks should be destroyed - to lessen the chance of smallpox escaping again
and to set a moral example that even possession of smallpox samples violated
global norms. The stumbling block has been intelligence reports that North
Korea and Iraq may have retained clandestine stocks for military use. Some scientists who believe that the
remaining samples should be destroyed point out that new vaccines and
antiviral drugs can be developed without them, by testing against related
viruses. But the smallpox samples would clearly
have some value for these purposes. Indeed, the prestigious Institute of
Medicine concluded that the most compelling reason for retention would be to
develop antiviral drugs or novel vaccines. The institute's expert panel made no
judgment on whether the stocks should be retained or destroyed. But at a time
when bioterrorism has become disturbingly real, it seems wise to err on the
side of retention. New York
Times November 16, 2001 DR. MERCOLA'S
COMMENT: Interesting to note that the US will
not destroy their smallpox samples. If you missed the recent article I
posted from the Washington Post on smallpox it is highly recommended as
it is the most comprehensive article I have ever seen on the subject. Related
Articles: Sanitation
V. Vaccination - The Origin Of Smallpox |
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