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 | |
| 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 |
The Case against Extermination | 193 |
Conclusions and Recommendations | 205 |
Notes | 229 |
Select Bibliography | 247 |
Index | 259 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
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
Popular passages
Page 122 - States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental policies, and the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.
Page 125 - Government shall— (A) utilize a systematic, interdisciplinary approach which will insure the integrated use of the natural and social sciences and the environmental design arts in planning and in decisionmaking which may have an impact on man's environment...
Page 125 - State and local governments, and other concerned public and private organizations, to use all practicable means and measures, including financial and technical assistance, in a manner calculated to foster and promote the general welfare, to create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony, and fulfill the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generation* of Americans.
Page 125 - To declare a national policy which will encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between man and his environment; to promote efforts which will prevent or eliminate damage to the environment and biosphere and stimulate the health and welfare of man; to enrich the understanding of the ecological systems and natural resources important to the Nation; and to establish a Council on Environmental Quality.
Page 123 - Environmental impact assessment, as a national instrument, shall be undertaken for proposed activities that are likely to have a significant adverse impact on the environment and are subject to a decision of a competent national authority.
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.
Page 63 - The use of poison in any manner, be it to poison wells, or food, or arms, is wholly excluded from modern warfare.
Page 62 - You will do well to try to inoculate the Indians by means of blankets, as well as to try every other method that can serve to extirpate this execrable race.
Page 121 - Every form of life is unique, warranting respect regardless of its worth to man, and, to accord other organisms such recognition, man must be guided by a moral code of action.
Page 121 - All areas of the earth, both land and sea, shall be subject to these principles of conservation, special protection shall be given to unique areas, to representative samples of all the different types of ecosystems and to the habitats of rare or endangered species.