US Set to Retain Smallpox Stocks

November 23, 2001

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US Set to Retain Smallpox Stocks

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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Nov 16 - The Bush administration, reversing a

course set two decades ago, has decided that the world's remaining stocks of

smallpox should be retained until scientists develop new vaccines and treatments

for the disease.

Friday's New York Times reported that the decision, disclosed by senior

administration officials, was likely to provoke criticism from international

health officials who have long favored the destruction of the microbe.

A succession of administrations have endorsed the goal of destroying the

virus. But some American scientists and Pentagon officials have argued for

retaining smallpox stocks, and in 1999 President Bill Clinton declared that they

should be maintained, at least temporarily, while more research was conducted.

The Times said the Clinton administration privately assured other nations

that it would support a move to kill off smallpox in 2002 when the issue was

considered by the World Health Organization, which has long advocated

destruction of the virus.

The Bush administration's new policy, which is now being described to

America's allies, sets no such deadline and establishes some stringent

conditions, reflecting a new assessment of the dangers posed by bioterrorism,

reported the Times.

Administration officials said the remaining American smallpox samples

should not be destroyed until the nation develops at least two licensed

antiviral drugs and a vaccine that can be taken by the entire population.

Administration officials said that after the September 11th attacks and

the spate of anthrax letters that have killed four people, the administration

had no choice but to abandon the nation's long-standing commitment to

eradicating the officially declared stocks as soon as possible.

" The issue was straightforward, " the Times quoted a senior official

saying. " Are we going to do what we can to be prepared for what is one of the

most consequential threats we face, or are we going to engage in feel-good

measures that mask the real danger? "

Officials said that an interagency group that has been considering

biodefense measures had unanimously endorsed the policy shift without

reservation.

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