WHO decides to keep the last remaining Smallpox stocks.

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Re: WHO decides to keep the last remaining Smallpox stocks.

Post by Pappa » Fri May 27, 2011 7:49 am

It's probably always going to be easier and cheaper to modify an existing virus than rebuild it from scratch, no matter how much it's been studied and sequenced. So I'd rather it was still around, just in case it could be useful in the future.

I expect it won't be too long before we see customised viruses used as bioweapons though. It's not a thought I relish... unless they develop a Rage virus and bring on the zombie apocalypse. That would be pretty good.

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Re: WHO decides to keep the last remaining Smallpox stocks.

Post by cowiz » Fri May 27, 2011 7:55 am

Keep it. We'll need it when the aliens attack us.
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Re: WHO decides to keep the last remaining Smallpox stocks.

Post by Santa_Claus » Fri May 27, 2011 8:57 am

It should be given to the Palestinians.

Or to Gawd.
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Re: WHO decides to keep the last remaining Smallpox stocks.

Post by Annuhh5 » Fri May 27, 2011 10:39 am

Do we really want to give it to a crazy person who kills thousands of people? I'm talking about God of course.
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Re: WHO decides to keep the last remaining Smallpox stocks.

Post by Feck » Fri May 27, 2011 11:00 am

Annuhh5 wrote:Do we really want to give it to a crazy person who kills thousands of people? I'm talking about God of course.
Considering just how much time and effort the USSR spent on bioweapons and the fact that America couldn't even keep it's 'weaponized' Anthrax safe .

The only safe place to keep it is my kitchen .
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Re: WHO decides to keep the last remaining Smallpox stocks.

Post by Pappa » Fri May 27, 2011 11:05 am

Feck wrote:
Annuhh5 wrote:Do we really want to give it to a crazy person who kills thousands of people? I'm talking about God of course.
Considering just how much time and effort the USSR spent on bioweapons and the fact that America couldn't even keep it's 'weaponized' Anthrax safe .

The only safe place to keep it is my kitchen .
As the secret ingredient in your chilli sauce? :lol:
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Re: WHO decides to keep the last remaining Smallpox stocks.

Post by Annuhh5 » Fri May 27, 2011 11:22 am

Smallpox cookies, for extra flavour.
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Re: WHO decides to keep the last remaining Smallpox stocks.

Post by Feck » Fri May 27, 2011 12:12 pm

Annuhh5 wrote:Smallpox cookies, for extra flavour.
not that Porton Down made Anthrax cakes or nuffing ...
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Re: WHO decides to keep the last remaining Smallpox stocks.

Post by charlou » Fri May 27, 2011 1:45 pm

Annuhh5 wrote:Do we really want to give it to a crazy person who kills thousands of people? I'm talking about God of course.
Didn't God give it to us in the first place? You know, Intelligent Design ... :fp:
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Re: WHO decides to keep the last remaining Smallpox stocks.

Post by Annuhh5 » Fri May 27, 2011 2:10 pm

charlou wrote:
Annuhh5 wrote:Do we really want to give it to a crazy person who kills thousands of people? I'm talking about God of course.
Didn't God give it to us in the first place? You know, Intelligent Design ... :fp:
:o I apologize! How could I forget!
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Re: WHO decides to keep the last remaining Smallpox stocks.

Post by Feck » Fri May 27, 2011 2:32 pm

Pwease send me the small pox my friends are driving through France next month it's too good a chance to miss !
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Re: WHO decides to keep the last remaining Smallpox stocks.

Post by Warren Dew » Mon May 30, 2011 2:43 pm

They aren't the last two stocks of smallpox - just the last two known stocks. If stocks of smallpox were used for making bioweapons, it would be the secret ones. The known ones would be needed to test vaccines.

As to the ability to recreate smallpox from computer records - to my mind, that makes destroying existing well guarded stocks fairly pointless.

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Re: WHO decides to keep the last remaining Smallpox stocks.

Post by charlou » Mon May 30, 2011 3:25 pm

Warren Dew wrote:As to the ability to recreate smallpox from computer records - to my mind, that makes destroying existing well guarded stocks fairly pointless.
Yes, that had crossed my mind, too.
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