W H O postpones destruction of smallpox virus
Today the World Health Organization postponed for at least four years their decision on when to destroy the last remaining stores of smallpox virus. This horrible disease was completely eradicated almost 30 years ago, and they want to keep the virus around?
La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) aplazó hoy por al menos cuatro años cualquier decisión sobre cuándo destruir las últimas reservas conocidas de viruela, un virus mortal erradicado hace casi 30 años. ¿Quieren continuar teniendo el virus almacenado?
Story at Prensa.com (Panama's)
Story at Generaccion.com (Peru)
Explique en inglés o español, lo que creéis sobre esto. Deben que destruirlo? Cóntadnos tus razones.
Explain in English or Spanish, what you think about this. Should it be destroyed? Tell us your reasons.
5 Answers
I don't wish to be the one who disagrees, but I think the study of that virus has been crucial for scientific investigation, especially in inmunology studies, development molecular biology tools, vectors, and vaccines. I myself have worked with tools derivated from pox. Its infectious capability is so high due to some particular reasons that are contained in its DNA. It was one of the first viruses that was studied, and for that reason, also erradicated. I honestly think that there is nothing more than scientifical interest here.
I've heard reference to the scientific value of the virus before the gene sequence was taken. But now that data is available, so that reason cannot be valid now.
This argument would be valid if all he information about a virus could be contained in its sequence, something that is not true. Proteins, RNA and another small molecules are more important than DNA in these cases, and these can only be reproduced once a virus infects a cell. Another point is that the study of natural mutations is so important as the study of the sequence, and these wouldn't take place anymore if the virus were erradicated.
Unfortunately, there is no source like having some viral strains stored, yet.
Smallpox was eradicated in the 1970s, but supplies of the virus have been kept by the United States and Russia since then because they are afraid of the virus being used in a biological terrorist attack.
I've read that it is now technically possible to recreate the virus from scratch, since its genome has been sequenced. However, I wonder how long it takes to make from scratch. I am no scientist, but maybe a readily available supply is kept in case of an attack to be used for further testing and development of antivirals.
Then again, noting which two countries are involved in the storage of the remaining smallpox, maybe it is the Cold War all over again.
Pesta, I do not believe the WHO holds the sole remaining samples of the smallpox virus. I suspect there are many other organizations that continue to maintain viable forms of the virus.
There are many other pathogens that cause fast-spreading disease (bubonic, anthrax, botulism, etc.) that continue to be stored by agencies and governments. Some are responsible, but others aren't. I share your concern, but there are people in the world who do not play by the rules and look for every opportunity to terrorize and control.
I've heard reference to the scientific value of the virus before the gene sequence was taken. But now that data is available, so that reason cannot be valid now.
I've also heard mention of new therapies. For what? To cure smallpox?? That's a circular argument. We don't need a cure for an extinct disease, or am I missing something?
Have they shared any reason at all for wanting to hold onto the remaining stores of the virus?
