A committee of researchers at the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine analyzed findings from the COVID-19 pandemic and mpox outbreak to create the report, according to a Texas A&M news release. The experts recommend nations enhance their smallpox preparedness plans.
The report outlines two potential pathways for a smallpox revival: a terrorist act or an accidental leak. Only two laboratories — one in the U.S., the other in Russia — have official samples of the virus that causes smallpox, according to the release. The risk of a leak is low, the report said, but “we must stay vigilant,” according to Zhilong Yang, PhD, a Texas A&M professor and one of the committee members.
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