• Question: Small pox was a very common disiese during the Tudor times. Is there any cure for it?

    Asked by gallopinghorse123 to Rosie on 12 Mar 2014.
    • Photo: Rosie Coates

      Rosie Coates answered on 12 Mar 2014:

      There is no known cure for small pox. In todays society however this is not so much of a problem. This is because the last known outbreak of small pox was in Somalia in 1977. Because of a vaccination program against the virus it has been eradicated for over 30 years, except for some stocks stored in Russia and the USA. There are some people who think they should destroy their stocks now in case the virus is accidentally released. However the USA and Russia say these stocks are needed to do research on better vaccines and possible cures in case the virus ever comes back.

      I can see both arguments but as a scientist I think keeping some of the virus safely stored is probably a good idea so that we can keep working on a cure, just in case we ever need it.

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