Recent Events and Observations Pertaining to Smallpox Virus Destruction in 2002

To destroy all remaining stocks of variola virus on or before 31 December 2002 seems an even more compelling goal today than it did in 1999, when the 52d World Health Assembly authorized temporary retention of remaining stocks to facilitate the possible development of (1) a more attenuated, less reactogenic smallpox vaccine and (2) an antiviral drug that could be used in treatment of patients with smallpox. We believe the deadline established in 1999 should be adhered to, given the potential outcomes of present research. Although verification that every country will have destroyed its stock of virus is impossible, it is reasonable to assume that the risk of a smallpox virus release would be diminished were the World Health Assembly to call on each country to destroy its stocks of smallpox virus and to state that any person, laboratory, or country found to have virus after date x would be guilty of a crime against humanity. More than 18 months have passed since the 52d World Health Assembly reaffirmed the decision of previous assemblies that the remaining stocks of variola virus should be destroyed [1]. However, it authorized “temporary retention up to [but] not later than 2002 and subject to annual review by the World Health Assembly. ” It provided for the creation of an expert group to oversee an interim research program and to assur