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DATE=5/24/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249720
TITLE=W-H-O / SMALLPOX (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GORDON MARTIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE 191-NATION WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION -- NEARING THE 
END OF ITS ANNUAL POLICY-MAKING ASSEMBLY -- HAS DECIDED TO RETAIN
STOCKS OF THE DEADLY SMALLPOX VIRUS.  GORDON MARTIN REPORTS FROM 
GENEVA.
TEXT:  THE DECISION MONDAY OVERTURNS AN EARLIER W-H-O RULING THAT
THE WORLD'S KNOWN STOCKS OF SMALLPOX VIRUS SHOULD BE DESTROYED, 
AND REFLECTS FEARS BY THE UNITED STATES AND SOME OTHER COUNTRIES 
THAT DESTRUCTION OF THE VIRUS NOW WOULD BE PREMATURE AND EVEN 
DANGEROUS.
W-H-O DECLARED IN 1980 THAT SMALLPOX -- FOR CENTURIES ONE OF THE 
WORLD'S MOST FEARED KILLER DISEASES -- HAD BEEN WIPED OUT BY AN 
INTENSIVE VACCINATION CAMPAIGN.  REMAINING STOCKS OF THE DEADLY 
VIRUS WERE MOVED TO TWO HIGH-SECURITY STORAGE LABORATORIES -- ONE
IN ATLANTA GEORGIA IN THE UNITES STATES AND THE OTHER IN THE 
REMOTE SIBERIAN REGION OF RUSSIA.
W-H-O MEMBER NATIONS VOTED THREE YEARS AGO TO HAVE THESE STOCKS 
DESTROYED ON JUNE 30TH OF THIS YEAR.  BUT SINCE THEN, A NUMBER OF
COUNTRIES -- INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA -- HAVE HAD 
SECOND THOUGHTS.  
PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID LAST MONTH THAT THE UNITED STATES WOULD 
SEEK A DELAY IN THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SMALLPOX VIRUS.  HE SAID 
THE VIRUS STOCKS MIGHT BE NEEDED TO FIGHT THE DISEASE IF IT 
SOMEHOW MADE A COMEBACK OR IF SOME UNDETECTED BATCHES FELL INTO 
THE HANDS OF TERRORISTS.
U-S HEALTH SECRETARY DONNA SHALALA SAID LAST WEEK IN GENEVA IT IS
NOT  POSSIBLE TO BE 100 PERCENT SURE THAT THE KNOWN STOCKS OF 
SMALLPOX VIRUS ARE REALLY THE ONLY ONES IN THE WORLD.  SHE SAID 
THE SAFE THING TO DO IS TO DELAY THE DESTRUCTION.
THE NEW W-H-O RESOLUTION -- APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY ON MONDAY -- 
MAKES CLEAR THAT RETENTION OF THE SMALLPOX VIRUS STOCKS IS ONLY 
TEMPORARY.  IT SETS A NEW DEADLINE OF THE YEAR 2002 FOR THEIR 
DESTRUCTION, SUBJECT TO ANNUAL REVIEW.
THE RESOLUTION ALSO STRESSES THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE DELAY IS TO 
ALLOW FURTHER INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH INTO ANTI-VIRAL AGENTS AND 
IMPROVED SMALLPOX VACCINES.  IT SAYS ALL SUCH RESEARCH MUST BE 
CARRIED OUT IN AN OPEN MANNER, ONLY WITH THE AGREEMENT AND UNDER 
THE CONTROL OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION.  (SIGNED)
NEB/GM/JWH
24-May-99 11:57 AM EDT (1557 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.