What is the danger of keeping laboratory smallpox viruses?

The danger of keeping laboratory smallpox viruses is that they could potentially be used to create a bioweapon. Smallpox is a highly contagious and deadly disease, and there is no known cure. If a smallpox virus were to escape from a laboratory, it could potentially cause a global pandemic.

Smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980, but there are still some laboratory stocks of the virus that are kept for research purposes. These stocks are kept in high-security facilities, and they are only accessible to a limited number of people. However, there is always the risk that a smallpox virus could be stolen or accidentally released.

In addition to the potential for bioterrorism, laboratory smallpox viruses also pose a risk to laboratory workers. Smallpox is a very dangerous disease, and even a small exposure to the virus can be fatal. Laboratory workers who handle smallpox viruses must take extreme precautions to avoid becoming infected.

The risks associated with keeping laboratory smallpox viruses are very real, and they must be carefully weighed against the benefits of research. Research on smallpox viruses is important for developing new vaccines and treatments, but it must be conducted in a way that minimizes the risk of a pandemic.