Assessment of Future Scientific Needs for Live Variola Virus (1999) / Chapter Skim
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5 Variola Virus Stocks Following Eradication of Smallpox
5 Variola Virus Stocks Following Eradication of Smallpox
Pages 37-44
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From page 37... ...
After the World Health Assembly sanctioned the WHO declaration of 1980 that smallpox had been eradicated, WHO established a Committee on Orthopoxvirus Infections (COI) to advise on steps to be taken in the posteradication era and to monitor the conduct of those steps [15~.
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From page 38... ...
In addition, handling of cloned DNA fragments of the variola virus genome follows the recommendations issued in a 1994 COI report t16~: · The two international repositories for storage, maintenance, and distribution of cloned DNA fragments of variola virus are CDC and VECTOR. · Each sample is identified by nucleotide sequence determination.
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From page 39... ...
Special individual supply and exhaust air ventilation is provided for laboratory workers, and pressure differentials are maintained to ensure the inward flow of air toward areas where the potential for hazard is highest [17] : :~ There have been only two maximum containment facilities in the United States: one at CD;C~ and one at Fort Detrick, In Frederick ~ Maryland.
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From page 40... ...
The samples, some of which are duplicated, do not represent a complete archive of taxonomically characterized strains from the different outbreaks in recent history.* DECISION BY THE WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY TO DESTROY VARIOLA VIRUS STOCKS In 1986 and again in 1990, COI affirmed the desirability of destroying variola virus stocks and intact DNA (but not cloned DNA fragments)
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From page 41... ...
They submitted a report containing the following conclusions and recommendations [15~: · There is strong support for the ultimate destruction of viable smallpox stocks in all repositories. · However, in the face of evidence of a public health threat posed by the potential use of unregistered stocks of smallpox as an agent of terrorism or biological warfare, destruction should be deferred until specific information is obtained on the following three critical issues: The efficacy of currently available antiviral drugs.
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From page 42... ...
An initial step would be to undertake a screening of these compounds in cell cultures infected with variola virus or other orthopoxviruses and then to proceed through animal models using appropriate surrogate orthopoxviruses, recognizing that there is no satisfactory animal model for variola infection (see Chapter 6~. A second research area identified by the JCG involves ascertaining the possible applicability of a model using monkeypox virus infection in monkeys to measure the effect of antivirals and assess the efficacy of vaccines.
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From page 43... ...
A DOD vaccine derived in cell culture using plaque-purified Connaught smallpox vaccine as seed virus was also tested under this program. Monkeys vaccinated with the DOD vaccine or commercially available vaccine were subsequently exposed to aerosolized monkeypox virus.
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