Smallpox, an infectious disease caused by the Variola virus, was declared eradicated in 1980 following a global public health effort by the World Health Organization (WHO). This means the virus no longer circulates among people anywhere in the world. The disease, once a cause of widespread death, now exists only under strict laboratory containment.
The Global Eradication Campaign
In 1967, the WHO launched its Intensified Eradication Program to eliminate smallpox. The campaign’s success rested on a strategy of mass vaccination and active surveillance. This approach included “ring vaccination,” where health workers would find new cases, isolate them, and vaccinate everyone in the immediate vicinity to prevent further spread.
This international collaboration led to a steady decline in cases. The last naturally occurring case of smallpox was recorded in Somalia in 1977, involving a hospital cook named Ali Maow Maalin. After two years with no further cases, a global commission certified its eradication, which was officially declared by the World Health Assembly in 1980.
Current Locations of the Virus
Live Variola virus is officially held in only two high-security, maximum-containment laboratories designated by the WHO. One is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. The other is the Russian State Centre for Research on Virology and Biotechnology, also known as the VECTOR Institute, in Koltsovo, Russia.
These facilities operate under stringent international biosafety protocols to prevent any accidental release. The WHO conducts regular inspections of both sites to ensure safety and security measures are followed. The virus stocks were consolidated to these two locations after eradication to secure the materials.
Reasons for Storing the Virus
Despite its eradication, stocks of the Variola virus are maintained for research. The existence of live virus samples allows scientists to develop and test new vaccines and more effective antiviral drugs. Since these countermeasures cannot be ethically tested in humans, research with the live virus is needed to ensure their effectiveness.
This research also aids in the creation of improved and more rapid diagnostic tests. In the event of an unexpected re-emergence from an accidental release or use as a bioweapon, these tools would be needed for a quick response. The ongoing research, overseen by the WHO, helps ensure the world remains prepared.