Assessment of Future Scientific Needs for Live Variola Virus (Electronic book text)

The global eradication of smallpox stands as the most successful public health campaign in medical history. Smallpox engenders the very epitome of the dread associated with rampant and devastating illness. There are now only two remaining stocks of the live variola virus. Should they be destroyed to prevent an accidental release or even the possible use by terrorists? Or, are there medical advances that might result from studying the only pathogenic virus that humanity has been able to eradicate?