La decisión será transmitida a la Asamblea Mundial de la Salud el próximo mes de mayo para su aprobación por los estados miembros.
La Asamblea de 1999 había autorizado la retención de las reservas del virus, pero poniendo como fecha límite el año 2002 hasta su destrucción. Sin embargo, los atentados del 11 de septiembre en Nueva York y Washington, el envío de correo con esporas del bacilo del carbunco y el temor de que algunos países y organizaciones terroristas pueden disponer del virus variólico y utilizarlo como arma biológica, ha dado un giro de 180 grados a la situación.
Así las cosas, la conservación del virus se convierte en algo fundamental a la hora de desarrollar nuevas vacunas y fármacos antivirales, pensando en un hipotética ataque bioterrorista.
Otro de los aspectos relacionados con el tema es que la OMS mantendrá activo el Comité Asesor sobre Investigación del Virus Variólico, que continuará investigando y proporcionará información al Comité Ejecutivo dentro de 2 o 3 años acerca de sus progresos. A partir de ese momento, la OMS podría volver a plantearse la conservación o destrucción de los virus.
Webs Relacionadas
OMS
http://www.who.int/
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