A World Health Organisation (WHO) committee has sanctioned genetic research on the heavily protected smallpox virus that ravaged the world for centuries, sending shockwaves among scientists worldwide.The decision by the Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research last week in Geneva was made on the ground of being better able to combat the disease that is now considered a leading bio-terror threat although it was publicly eradicated 25 years ago, reported Kansas City Star.Smallpox is the only major disease eradicated by the WHO-driven vaccination programme.
