Access

Opinion

Nature 398, 733 (29 April 1999) | doi:10.1038/19568

naturejobs

More science jobs
Post a job for free

Smallpox preservation advisable

Top

Previous agreements notwithstanding, it makes sense not to destroy a key protective resource.

The decision by the Clinton administration not to proceed with the planned destruction of its store of smallpox (page 741) is well taken. A report last month by the US Institute of Medicine did not pronounce on whether the store should be destroyed, as the United States agreed to do in 1996 under a World Health Organization plan.