America is to hang on to its supply of smallpox virus, amid fears that
terrorists may have obtained enough of the deadly virus to launch an attack. The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, will retain its
stock to allow urgent research into new vaccines and treatments. Russia holds
the world’s only other sample at the Vektor Institute in Siberia, having made
tonnes of the virus as part of a secret biological weapons programme 20 years
ago.
To continue reading, today with our introductory offers
Advertisement
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
Woman with Alzheimer's starts conversing again after taking psilocybin
2
If you aren't terrified by this heatwave, you should be
3
Our verdict on The Selfish Gene: An unpopular piece of popular science
4
Where, when and how to watch the 2026 solar eclipse
5
Ancient human DNA found on cave art for the first time
6
We鈥檝e uncovered a master gene that switches on human development
7
I have a 100 per cent chance of getting cancer due to a rare gene
8
All known Homo naledi skeletons seem to be female
9
The surprising ways your brain changes from your 20s to your 40s
10
Faecal transplant makes the brains of old mice act young again
