Smallpox: The Fight to Eradicate a Global ScourgeUniversity of California Press, 2003 M01 21 - 274 pages Though smallpox was eradicated from the planet two decades ago, recent terrorist acts have raised the horrific possibility that rogue states, laboratories, or terrorist groups are in possession of secret stockpiles of the virus that causes the disease, and may be preparing to unleash it on target populations. Because it is a far deadlier killer than other biological warfare agents such as anthrax, and because the universal vaccination against smallpox was halted decades ago, a smallpox attack today would be nothing short of catastrophic. This clear, authoritative study looks at the long and fascinating history of the virus, with an informative overview of the political, biological, environmental, medical, and legal issues surrounding the question of whether or not the virus should be exterminated. The only two known samples of the virus are currently stored in Atlanta and Russia. The World Health Organization has repeatedly scheduled their destruction—an action that would rid the planet of all publicly acknowledged smallpox strains forever. Opponents of this plan argue that by destroying these last samples we are denying the possibility that this unique virus could be turned to beneficial purposes in basic scientific research. Others see the stockpile as part of a deterrent against future germ attacks. Proponents of prompt eradication argue that scientists have already learned all they can from this particular virus, and that by destroying the stockpile we are preventing it from ever falling into the wrong hands. As a thirty-year veteran of arms control issues, David Koplow is uniquely suited to provide readers with an informed and well-considered understanding of the complexities involved in the handling of this deadly virus. |
Contents
9 | |
The Biology of Viruses | 32 |
Smallpox as a Biological Weapon | 58 |
Environmental Law and Policy | 104 |
The World Health Organization | 137 |
The Morality of Extinction | 158 |
The Case for Extermination | 179 |
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activities agents American animals anthrax antiviral Arms Control bacteria biodiversity biological warfare Biological Weapons Convention Biopreparat bioterrorism campaign cell Center chapter Chemical and Biological civilian Committee countries cowpox creatures danger decision Defense deliberate destroy destruction Diversity Ebola effective efforts emergency Endangered Species entities environment ethical experts extermination extinction facilities Fenner future gene genetic engineering Geneva Protocol germ global human immune infection Infectious Diseases institutions International Environmental Law international law inventory laboratory least lethal military modern monkey pox moral natural NEPA offensive outbreak pathogens percent perhaps plants possible potential poxvirus preservation Princes and Peasants protection Protocol public health recently remaining Russia scientific smallpox eradication Smallpox Vaccine smallpox virus Soviet stockpiles sustained target terrorist threat tion Toxin treaty United Nations vaccinia variola samples variola stocks variola virus Vector viral viruses Washington Post World Health Organization York
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Page 10 - ... small-pox was always present, filling the churchyard with corpses, tormenting with constant fears all whom it had not yet stricken ; leaving on those whose lives it spared the hideous traces of its power ; turning the babe into a changeling at which the mother shuddered, and making the eyes and cheeks of the betrothed maiden objects of horror to the lover.