Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

The threat of smallpox and bioterrorism.

P Berche1

  • 1INSERM U411, Faculté de Médecine Necker-Enfants Malades, 156 Rue de Vaugirard, 75015 Paris, France.

Trends in Microbiology
|February 13, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Smallpox, though eradicated, poses a significant threat due to remaining virus stocks. No antiviral treatments exist, and the vaccine is only effective if given within four days of exposure.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

[Confined but mobilized, the National Academy of Medicine at the time of Covid-19].

Bulletin de l'Academie nationale de medecine·2020
Same author

COVID-19 epidemic phases: Criteria, challenges and issues for the future.

Bulletin de l'Academie nationale de medecine·2020
Same author

[Covid-19 epidemic phases: Criteria, challenges and issues for the future].

Bulletin de l'Academie nationale de medecine·2020
Same author

Prospective survey of acute osteoarticular infections in a French paediatric orthopedic surgery unit.

Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases·2013
Same author

Paediatric epidemiology of Pasteurella multocida meningitis in France and review of the literature.

European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology·2013
Same author

Louis Pasteur, from crystals of life to vaccination.

Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases·2012

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Public Health
  • Biosecurity

Background:

  • Smallpox (variola) historically caused high mortality.
  • Global eradication was achieved in 1977.
  • Remaining smallpox virus stocks present a persistent biothreat.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the ongoing risks associated with residual smallpox virus.
  • To discuss the limitations of current countermeasures.
  • To address the complex issues surrounding the destruction of smallpox virus stocks.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of smallpox epidemiology and virology.
  • Analysis of current public health and biosecurity policies.
  • Examination of ethical and political considerations regarding virus stocks.

Main Results:

  • Smallpox virus is human-specific and lacks animal pathogenicity.
  • No effective antiviral treatments are available.
  • Vaccine efficacy is time-limited to four days post-exposure.

Conclusions:

  • The eradication of smallpox does not eliminate the threat posed by remaining virus samples.
  • The potential for misuse as a biological weapon necessitates careful management of these stocks.
  • Destruction of remaining stocks involves significant political, social, scientific, and ethical challenges.

Related Experiment Videos