Smallpox: The Fight to Eradicate a Global Scourge

By David A. Koplow

Though smallpox was eradicated from the planet two decades ago, recent terrorist acts have raised the horrific possibility that rogue states, laboratories, or terrorist groups are in possession of secret stockpiles of the virus that causes the disease, and may be preparing to unleash it on target populations.

Because it is a far deadlier killer than other biological warfare agents such as anthrax, and because the universal vaccination against smallpox was halted decades ago, a smallpox attack today would be nothing short of catastrophic. This clear, authoritative study looks at the long and fascinating history of the virus, with an informative overview of the political, biological, environmental, medical, and legal issues surrounding the question of whether or not the virus should be exterminated.

The only two known samples of the virus are currently stored in Atlanta and Russia. The World Health Organization has repeatedly scheduled their destruction--an action that would rid the planet of all publicly acknowledged smallpox strains forever. Opponents of this plan argue that by destroying these last samples we are denying the possibility that this unique virus could be turned to beneficial purposes in basic scientific research. Others see the stockpile as part of a deterrent against future germ attacks. Proponents of prompt eradication argue that scientists have already learned all they can from this particular virus, and that by destroying the stockpile we are preventing it from ever falling into the wrong hands. As a thirty-year veteran of arms control issues, David Koplow is uniquely suited to provide readers with an informed and well-considered understanding of the complexities involved in the handling of this deadly virus.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0520237323
• ISBN13: 9780520237322
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: University of California Press
• Length: 270 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.0" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

World Health Organization(WHO), Russian , USA: the 2 countries possessing the last stockpiles of th

5/18/09 Kaplow's book (classified as politics/medicine on the back cover))in its Intro( Pgs 1 to 7) gives an excellent summary of what's to be expected in each of its 9 chapters(Where the Chapters endon Pg 238 , the Notes, Bibliography and Index complete the book's Pg 265[the book is designed like a "Cliff's notes with its black and yellow cover and microscopic germs design ,but it is absolutely not a "pony (a/k/a just cheat sheets"(unless "one would be tempted" to stop reading, after reading "the 7 Pages of Intro."(Although the "World Health Organization/WHO"* is not listed in the Index ,"it does hold its own" on the Content page ,informing readers that it is "all about 'WHO'* in Chapter 5(Pgs 137-157)...The text, on Pg 30, part of Chap 1(Pgs 9-31):"Rise and Fall of Smallpox" informs readers that no country(except Israel) any longer continues to give routine military vaccination on large scale),and that the USA & Russia possess the last "ampules of the variola virus"(called smallpox).(the USA-450 samples;Russia-120 isolates)...The book gives not only "much history to date of publication" about "the now extinct "smallpox" but also serious debates as to what to do with the USA & Russia supplies, based on the final word from WHO*.

Political

Having just finished this book and Richard Prestons' Demon in the Freezer it would be hard to compare the two as they are obviously written for different purposes. Koplow obviously wants to make a political message and he does so quite succinctly at the end of this book in regards to whether smallpox samples should be destroyed or not. It certainly adds to the debate and I find Koplow's arguments compelling but on such a momentous subject as this one would like to hear a range of argument and counter argument. Koplow's book is not a page turner and it is not written by a professional author, Koplow was the Pentagon's senior legal adviser on biological war issues. There are some hints within the book as to what other countries may be doing in the field of biological weapons research and I would imagine that Koplow was privileged to secrets the public will never know about. All in all though if you are interested in this subject get this book and integrate it into your thinking. 4 stars for having a go on very difficult and dry topic.