Immunization Newsbriefs (c) Copyright Information Inc., Bethesda, MD. Brought to you by the National Network for Immunization Information (NNii). Visit NNii's new website at http://www.immunizationinfo.org.
------------------------------------------------------------
November 8, 2002
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS
"France Denies Having Stocks of Smallpox Virus"
Reuters Health Information Services (www.reutershealth.com)
(11/06/02)
France rejected on Wednesday an allegation that it has stocks of the smallpox virus. An article in the Washington Post this week cited sources who suggested that five nations--the United States, France, North Korea, Russia, and Iraq--all have stocks of the deadly virus; however, French officials stated that the only stockpiles are at the Centers for Disease Control in the United States and at the VEKTOR facility in Russia. Bernard Valero, assistant spokesman at the French State Department, noted that France does not have any stocks of smallpox virus, and while scientists in the country are working on a next-generation vaccine, the research is only being conducted in approved animals and does not pose a risk to humans.
ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND
MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION
PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS
OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR
LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND
COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH
YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.