Nota Bene:  I worked in the US, Nigeria, Bangladesh and Somalia in the 70's for the WHO managed Smallpox Eradication Program. I am astounded to read the following from 'herald online.  The last statement about live smallpox being needed to make a vaccine is entirely bogus. Smallpox vaccine is made from cowpox pustules. Simply, smallpox is a terrific bio-weapon and we won't give it up. Hardly anyone in the world is vaccinated now.
Quote:
 The United States has proposed that the last known stockpiles of the smallpox virus should be retained for at leas another five years to allow for more research and prevent one of the world's deadliest diseases being used as a biological weapon.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told reporters Tuesday that the World Health Organization has been asked to decide whether the stockpiles held in secure U.S. and Russian labs should remain in place for at least another five years, when experts could again review the situation.

At a news conference at the U.N.'s European headquarters where the World Health Assembly also was debating the matter, Sebelius said the U.S. is "committed to the eventual destruction" of the stockpiles but fears that smallpox could still re-emerge and be released unintentionally or deliberately used as a biological weapon. Scientists would need the virus to create a vaccine.


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AP Photo - - U.S. health secretary Kathleen Sebelius smiles during a press conference at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 17, 2011. Sebelius is in Geneva to attend the annual meeting of the World Health Organization, WHO.





An aide to Sebelius, Bill Hall, later told AP that the United States would not act unilaterally, but would await the outcome of a vote on the U.S. proposal in the Geneva-based assembly.





At a news conference at the U.N.'s European headquarters where the World Health Assembly also was debating the matter, Sebelius said the U.S. is "committed to the eventual destruction" of the stockpiles but fears that smallpox could still re-emerge and be released unintentionally or deliberately used as a biological weapon. Scientists would need the virus to create a vaccine.This last 
Read more: http://www.heraldonline.com/2011/05/17/3073712/us-no-rush-to-destroying-last.html#ixzz1Mef0xqej

Read more: http://www.heraldonline.com/2011/05/17/3073712/us-no-rush-to-destroying-last.html#ixzz1MedM0MH8















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