In 2014, the WHA requested WHO to convene a group of experts to provide an up-to-date assessment of synthetic biology technologies that could be used to create biological entities based on genetic sequences, and to evaluate their potential impact on smallpox preparedness and countermeasure development.
A Scientific Working Group was convened in April 2015 to provide the technical and scientific background for the deliberations of the Independent Advisory Group on the Public Health Implications of Synthetic Biology Technologies related to Smallpox (IAG), which met subsequently in June 2015.
The IAG concluded that the risk of the re-emergence of smallpox overall has increased. They recognized that the creation of the variola virus, using information on DNA sequences, would be easier and cheaper in the future, and may be possible in small laboratories that have inadequate biosafety and biosecurity for handling the virus.
The IAG therefore recommended:
- to increase significantly preparedness efforts to ensure that early detection and rapid response capacities, including those in risk communications, for a potential smallpox re-emergence are widely available; and
- to revise the WHO regulations for the handling of variola virus (whole virus or fragments) with particular emphasis on biosafety and biosecurity rules and regulations to reduce and minimize the risk of a laboratory accident that may occur from the widespread use of synthetic biology technology.
The Independent Advisory Group on public health implications of synthetic biology technology related to smallpox
(published 2015)