On May 1, a group of international virologists published an open letter in the American scientific journal Plos Pathogens asking that the last stocks of live smallpox virus not be destroyed.
Since smallpox was officially eradicated in 1980, live viruses stored in two laboratories (in the United States and in Russia) have made it possible to continue research. However, according to virologists, this research is not finished and remains essential “because the objectives of the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop new safer vaccines, antivirals and better screening tools have not still been achieved “.
Smallpox: a virus that could reappear
The research into the development of a vaccine against smallpox is motivated by the fact that the disease can reappear in the population following an intentional reintroduction of the virus. The possibility of creating a synthetic virus cannot in fact be ruled out because of advances in biology. The researchers also point out that the disease could also reappear due to global warming. A few months ago, in fact, a giant virus 30,000 years old was unearthed in the permafrost, the frozen ground of Siberia. This virus, called Pithovirus, remained buried for more than 30,000 years before resurfacing in this zone released by the thaw. Virologists therefore believe that the resurgence of the smallpox virus cannot be completely ruled out.
The decision on whether or not to destroy the last living viruses in storage should be taken in the coming month.