Synthesis of Horsepox Virus: Implications for Biosecurity and Recommendations for Preventing the Reemergence of Smallpox

Health Security  Sept/Oct 2017
According to the researchers at George Mason University, it is now incumbent upon the public health and biodefense communities to take further steps to prepare for and defend against an outbreak of this dreaded disease. In addition, considering the potential for a synthesized smallpox virus to be more virulent or resistant to medical countermeasures than naturally occurring strains, research and development is needed to develop capabilities to detect genetic modifications in pox viruses, microbial forensic techniques applicable to synthetic viruses, and platforms… read more.