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WHO decides to once again postpone the destruction of smallpox virus samples
Last reviewed: 30.06.2025
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has once again decided to postpone the destruction of smallpox virus samples. The decision was made after two days of debate at the 64th World Health Assembly in Geneva. It was decided to return to the discussion of the fate of smallpox viruses in 2014.
Smallpox is the first and so far the only infection that has been eradicated through large-scale vaccination of the world's population. WHO officially declared smallpox eradicated in 1980.
Currently, collections of smallpox strains continue to be stored in laboratories in two countries – Russia and the United States. The issue of destroying the last samples of the virus has been periodically discussed since 1986.
The countries that own the collections consider their destruction premature given the continuing risk of new outbreaks of infection, as well as the possible use of the smallpox pathogen as a biological weapon.
Both Russia and the United States have previously said they intend to keep samples of the smallpox virus for further study for at least the next few years. The WHO Assembly's decision is unlikely to have affected their position, since it is not binding on the organization's member states.