Rinderpest: progress made since the eradication of the disease

摘要

Now that this infection has been eradicatedfrom the animal kingdom, the only way a rinderpestoutbreak could occur is if it were accidentally releasedfrom a laboratory, or if someone decided to use itmaliciously. To prevent this from happening, OIEMember Countries committed themselves (throughthe unanimous adoption of a Resolution) to destroyingremaining stocks of rinderpest material or ensuringthat they are safely stored (otherwise known assequestration) in a minimum number of approvedhigh-containment facilities . However, rinderpestmaterial remains stored in an unacceptably highnumber of laboratories worldwide, and the higherthe number of laboratories holding this material,the greater the risk of an accident or maliciousrelease.