Should the Smallpox stocks be destroyed?

This is not a new argument but one that has divided nations for decades, on several occasions smallpox has been on the agenda of the World Health Association (WHA) meetings, the last time that this issue was discussed was May 2011. The meeting was again to discuss whether the stocks of smallpox should be kept or destroyed, no decision was made. The WHA decided that the subject would be reassessed in 2014 ‘The decision followed contentious discussions on a draft resolution, proposed by the US and several co-sponsors, that would have allowed continued retention of the existing virus stocks, with a report on progress of research only in five years time (2016), at the 69th WHA. Despite an informal working group meeting to deliberate the issue, there was no consensus and a decision was then made to defer the discussion on the draft resolution’ (Ching, 2011). The Report by Ching, 2011 also stated that as the stocks were to be kept for a further five years that an extensive research report would need to be kept and presented at the next meeting. Dr Henderson who led the eradication programme said ‘it’s a good idea to destroy the stocks, at this point the reasons for keeping the stocks are obscure. Group after group have looked at this and basically there is no need to retain it.’

In order to make a decision as to whether or not I believe the smallpox virus should be destroyed I have read the following:

The report from the 65^th WHA meeting outlining the decision to defer the subject for a further five years, CHING,L.L.2011. Attempts by the United States to prolong the retention of variola (smallpox) virus stocks have been thwarted at the World Health Assembly (WHA).Proceedings of the 65^th WHA Meeting. 16-24 May 2011.Geneva.

I have read online articles from science insider, MARTIN,E.2011 .After U.S pressure, smallpox wins reprieve again. [online] Cambridge. Science Insider. Available from: http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2011/05/smallpox-virus-wins-three-year.html [Accessed 11th April 2013]

An article at www.nature.com discussed reasons why the virus should be kept. NATURE INTRNATIONAL WEEKLY SCIENCE JOURNAL.2011.Smallpox should be saved. Nature.469.265. Available from: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v469/n7330/full/469265a.html [Accessed 11th April 2013]

Kathleen Sebelius who is the U.S secretary of health and human services also discussed reason to keep the stocks in an article in the New York Times. SEBELIUS,K. 2011.Why We Still Need Smallpox. [online] New York. New York Times. Available from: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/26/opinion/26iht-edsebelius26.html?_r=0 [Accessed 11^th April 2013]

The book Deadly Diseases and Epidemics, Smallpox proved very helpful as it discussed both sides of the argument. Finer,K,R.2004.Deadly Diseases and Epidemics:Smallpox.USA. Chelsea House Publications.

I did find whilst researching the subject that there seems to be an abundance of information discussing reasons why the virus should be kept as opposed to much less people supporting the destruction of the stocks. In the following posts I will outline the reasons for retaining the stocks and for destroying them.

Official Eradication

http://wellcomehistory.wordpress.com/2010/12/15/achieving-the-impossible/

 This is an image of the official declaration of the eradication of smallpox.

Whats the risk ?

At the moment the risks of smallpox killing seem relatively low, this is due to an eradication programme that took place throughout the world decades ago. The last known case of wild smallpox was found in a host in Somalia in 1977, 1980 saw the world declared free from smallpox (History of vaccines.org, 2013).

The last known ‘wild’ case may have been in 1977; however smallpox still exists after its official eradication.  The smallpox virus is still alive, not in the wild but in laboratories. ’Repositories for the live variola virus remain only at two secure locations in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States, and Novosibirsk Russia’ (INSTUTUTE OF MEDICINE OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES , 2005). This brings me to the main point of this blogg:

Should the smallpox virus be kept in labrarories or should it be destroyed?

References

INSTUTUTE OF MEDICINE OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES , 2005. Smallpox Eradication Programe : Public Health In An Age of Terrorism . In: Washington: National Academy of Science , p. 10.

VACCINES, H. O., 2013. HISTORY OF SMALLPOX. [Online]
Available at: http://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/timelines/smallpox
[Accessed 7 April 2013].

 

 

What is Smallpox? The basics

The CDC (2007) states that ‘Smallpox is a serious, contagious, and sometimes fatal infectious disease’.  Smallpox is characterised by a distinctive rash that appears on the surface of the skin, the rash further develops into blisters filled with fluid.

The Variola Virus that is responsible for smallpox has been affecting humans for thousands of years. The virus can be spread via direct contact with an infected person or their bodily fluids, objects such as clothes can also become contaminated and spread the virus from person to person CDC (2007). There are two main strains of the Variola Virus, Variola Minor and Variola Major, they both affect the host in slightly different ways.

Variola Minor is the less severe strain of the disease, unfortunately it is the least common it is only responsible for less than 10% of all smallpox cases.

Variola Major is the more common strain of the disease, it is also much more severe with a death rate of around 30% CDC (2007). Variola Major has four different forms:

Ordinary Smallpox – this accounts for around 90% of smallpox cases.

Modified Smallpox – this is a milder form of the disease and usually occurs in people who have previously had the smallpox vaccination.

Flat Smallpox – also known as malignant smallpox, this is an extremely severe version. The fluid filled blisters do not break the surface of the skin and instead lay under the surface.

Hemorrhagic- this is a very rare form, death is extremely likely to occur. Hemorrhages develop under the skin and within mucus membranes.  

References

CENTRE FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION.2007.Smallpox overview.[online]Atlanta.CDC.gov. Available from http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/overview/disease-facts.asp
[Accessed 2 April 2013]








http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/472400_2

http://manbir-online.com/diseases/smallpox-2.htm

This is an image taken from an electron micrograph showing the a virus which causes smallpox. This virus is known as Variola Major. There are two major strains of the virus, Variola Major and Variola Minor.

 

References

 

CENTRE FOR DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL.2007.Smallpox Disease Overview.[online] Atlanta: CDC. Available from:

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/overview/disease-facts.asp

[Accessed 1 April 2007]

Smallpox. Why all the fuss?

My latest assignment requires me to discuss the arguments surrounding the stocks of smallpox virus that are being kept. After researching and highlighting points from both sides of the debate, I am then asked to state my position as to whether I believe the stocks should continue to be kept or if they should be destroyed. I will be using this blog to show my findings.

For a long time now there have been continuous debates between the countries of the world as to whether the live stocks of smallpox should continue to be kept. The World Health Organisation (2013) (WHO) states that there are two known laboratories in the world that are currently storing stocks, one is based in the US and the other in Russia, however there is belief that some governments may have undeclared stocks, this is a concern as they could be used as a powerful bioweapon. Since the eradication of smallpox in 1979 knowledge about the highly contagious disease has gradually taken a back seat, people seem to be oblivious to the severity and devastation that it can cause, ‘Smallpox has existed for at least 3,000 years and was one of the world’s most feared diseases’ (WHO 2013), it seems that as the generations go on less and less people actually know what smallpox is and the hold that it once had on the world.

 

THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION, 2013.Frequently asked questions and answers on smallpox.[online]Geneva: The World Health Organisation. Avaialble from: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/smallpox/faq/en/index.html#thenwhy [accessed 1 April 2013]

Why am I writing this Blog ?

I am currenlty studying at Doncaster College where I am completing an access to nursing course. My aim is to go to university and study to be an ODP, I will be using this blogg to keep a record of and share my research with the other students on my course.