WHO establishes smallpox vaccine reserve
Countries at the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva have discussed two reports regarding smallpox and welcomed progress on WHO's work to establish a global smallpox vaccine reserve to be used in the event of a smallpox emergency, particularly in countries that don't have the resources to create their own stockpile.
Countries at the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva have discussed two reports regarding smallpox and welcomed progress on WHO's work to establish a global smallpox vaccine reserve to be used in the event of a smallpox emergency, particularly in countries that don't have the resources to create their own stockpile.
Smallpox, which kills around a quarter of the people it infects, was declared eradicated in 1980. The only known samples of the virus are stored in two secure laboratories approved by WHO (Centres for Dis-ease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, US; and Vector, Kostsovo, Russian Federation). However, the WHA has recognized the possibility that smallpox could be reintroduced, and since 1996 has had ongoing discussions about measures to prepare for a smallpox emergency.
The strategy is for WHO to build its strategic stockpile of smallpox vaccine in Geneva, with countries being invited to donate and maintain additional stocks for dispatch to where they are most needed in the event of an emergency. Progress on this reserve has already begun, with 2.5 million doses in Geneva, and an additional 31 million doses donated by countries, including 20 million doses from the US and five million from France.
During the assembly, member states noted the director general's report, which contained a recommendation for the WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research to reconsider its recommendation to allow smallpox virus genes to be implanted into other less virulent types of orthopox viruses.
The Advisory Committee had also recommended a type of research that assists in swift screening of results, and increased safety for the researcher. The recommendation is to insert a green florescent marker protein in variola virus helps to ensure more rapid screening of antiviral drugs to determine whether they are effective.
In 1996, the WHA recommended that all remaining stocks of smallpox (variola) virus be destroyed, reaffirming the decision in May 1999, but also authorising temporary retention of stocks for research purposes.