Global Alert and Response (GAR)

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.

Major Review of Variola Virus Research, 1999-2010

Preparedness in the event of a smallpox outbreak

Programme to facilitate Variola virus research

WHO fact sheet

Frequently asked questions

Information resources

Highlights

Scientific review of variola virus research, 1999–2010

WHO Biosafety Inspection Team Report

Variola Virus Maximum Containment Laboratories to the State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology (“SRC VB VECTOR”), Kol'tsovo, Novosibirsk Oblast', Russian Federation 30 November – 4 December 2009

Report of the Twelfth Meeting, Geneva, Switzerland,17–18 November 2010

Advisory Group of Independent Experts to review the smallpox research programme (AGIES)

WHO Biosafety Inspection Team Report

Ad Hoc Committee on Orthopoxvirus Infections

Report of a meeting, Geneva, 2004

Disease Outbreaks

Scientific review of variola virus research, 1999–2010

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