![]() ![]() ![]() When the 55th WHA took place in 2002, it was decided to postpone it in recognition of the need to continue important research. In recollection, the 52nd WHA in 1999 recommended the destruction of the stocks in 2002. Thus, I am interested in what would be the best possible way to handle the problem of destruction or retention of variola virus as discussed in this article. At present, I serve as a member of the WHO Variola Research Committee. At the WHO headquarters I also campaigned to reduce the number of laboratories retaining variola virus throughout the world to the minimum. I learnt a great deal about smallpox, one of the most miserable diseases in the world. I worked for smallpox eradication programs for 23 years at the WHO in Africa (1962–1964) and at the WHO headquarters, Geneva (1964–1985). It was also decided that discussion will take place at the 67th WHA, under the tentative title “Smallpox eradication: destruction of variola virus stocks”. The 64th WHA finally decided to reaffirm the decisions of previous WHA sessions that the stocks of variola virus should be destroyed and also reaffirm the need to reach a consensus on a new proposed date for the destruction of variola virus stocks when research outcomes critical to improved public health response to an outbreak so permit. It had supporters of more than a few dozen, while there were groups, as well as individual delegates, who were against or seriously critical of the proposal. The 64th World Health Assembly (WHA) 2011, discussed the long-standing subject: how to destroy the current variola virus stocks in two WHO collaborating laboratories in the USA and Russia? The US delegate drafted a proposal to continue research with the current virus stocks for another 5 years, until the 69th WHA (2016) when its outcomes will be reported.
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