Research - Possibility of undeclared stocks being used as a bioweapon.

Throughout my research, I was still very much fence sitting, I found articles which portrayed both sides of the argument. It wasn’t until I came across a specific quote which stuck in my mind and it was then set in stone for me that the last known stocks of the virus should, without a doubt, be kept.

“ We fully agree that these samples should – and eventually will- be destroyed…however, we also recognize that the timing of this destruction will determine whether we continue to live with the risk of the disease re-emerging through deliberate misuse of the virus by other” (K. Sebelius, 2011)

‘Deliberate misuse of others’ - what could that meen? Well, after the eradication of the disease, the WHO (2013) called on all countries in 1980 to destroy their stocks of the small pox virus or pass them onto the registered holders of the virus in either Russia or USA. However, it was only ever assumed that all countries did in fact do this and verification that all countries did do this did not take place.

Baring in mind that smallpox was “reportedly employed as a biological weapon during the French and Indian War in the 18^th century” (G. Rashke, 2011) the possibility that the idea of undeclared stocks being used as a bioweapon is already out there and been contemplated once before. Now if this is the case, the stocks which are currently preserved correctly and officially would be best kept to maintain safety and peice of mind. Imagine the vulnerability against a country who has their own stocks, deliberatly kept to misuse if the last official stocks are destroyed?

References
1. Parry. W, (2011) Proposed destruction of smallpox virus creates controversy. New York: tech media network. [Online]. Available from:

http://www.livescience.com/13667-smallpox-virus-destruction-variola-vaccination.html [04/04/13].

2. Ninh. A, (2011) Should we destroy the last of the world's smallpox virus? [s.l.]: time inc. [Online]. Available from: http://healthland.time.com/2011/05/18/should-we-destroy-the-last-of-the-worlds-smallpox-virus/print/ [04/04/13].

3. Sebelius. K, (2011) Why we still need smallpox. New York: The New York Times. [Online]. Available from: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/26/opinion/26iht-edsebelius26.html [29/03/13].