The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7216 p392-394
21 September 2002

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Letters to the Editor

Immunisation

Dangers of genetically modified smallpox virus

From Mr L. W. J. Chapman, MRPharmS

I wish to bring to the attention of my fellow pharmacists and other professionals for comment that Australian researchers have now discovered, almost by accident, how to modify genetically various pox viruses so that the well known immunisation techniques are no longer effective in preventing modified virus disease outbreaks.

The research has been published in the manner usual in the sciences. A comprehensive article appeared in Atlantic Monthly, a United States publication, this summer [see "Designer bugs"].

Smallpox virus strains are among the viruses able to be modified. It is stated that a population infected by smallpox where protection was absent would experience a level of deaths equal to approximately 25 per cent of the population. This seems to be what we can now expect with any future biological warfare, bearing in mind that, historically, available weapons have always been used by man sooner or later.

The Australians published the research because they thought that others were likely to discover the techniques involved, or may have already done so. The noted Australian researcher, Professor Fenner, spent his life working to combat smallpox and with success. It is ironic that it is Australians who have made these dangerous discoveries, revealing, also, the research that may have already been secretly pursued elsewhere.

Since physicians, nurses, pharmacists and many others with training in the health sphere are likely to be involved in this sort of disaster when it arises, I look forward to enlightening thought and expert comment from readers.

Leonard Chapman
Toronto, Canada

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