Smallpox

Smallpox is an acute contagious disease caused by Variola virus, a member of the orthopoxvirus family. It was one of the world's most feared diseases until it was eradicated by a collaborative global vaccination programme led by the World Health Organization. The last known natural case was in Somalia in 1977. Since then, the only known cases were caused by a laboratory accident in 1978 in Birmingham, England, which killed one person and caused a limited outbreak. Smallpox was officially declared eradicated in 1979.

PREPAREDNESS IN THE EVENT OF A SMALLPOX OUTBREAK - For more information PROGRAMME TO FACILITATE VARIOLA VIRUS RESEARCH - For more information

WHO FACT SHEET - English FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - For more information INFORMATION RESOURCES - For more information

Report of the Eleventh Meeting, Geneva, Switzerland, 4–5 November 2009
WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research

WHO Biosafety Inspection Team Report
CDC Variola Virus Maximum Containment Laboratories
Atlanta , Georgia, USA, 2-6 March 2009 [pdf 105kb]

Smallpox eradication: destruction of variola virus stocks
Executive Board , Report of the Secretariat, January 2007

Ad Hoc Committee on Orthopoxvirus Infections
Report of a meeting, Geneva, 2004

8 February 2010
Avian influenza - situation in Egypt - update 28

5 February 2010
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 86

29 January 2010
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 85

Disease Outbreak News