Decision to Destroy Remaining Stocks of Live Smallpox Virus Deferred
Posted on May 25, 2011
The BBC reports that a decision on whether or not to destroy the last remain stocks of live smallpox virus has been deferred. The World Health Organization (WHO) will meet again in 2014 to discuss the idea of destroying the remaining stock.
The BBC says Iran opposed a plan by the US and Russia to set a date to destroy the remain stockpiles in 2016.
Smallpox is one of the most horrific diseases ever known. The World Health Organization says that in some ancient civilizations they would not name a newborn until the infant had proved it could survive the disease. The disease killed as many as 30% of those it infected and left 65% to 80% of survived marked with pockmarks. Many of those fortunate enough to survive smallpox were left blind by the disease.