Is Smallpox a threat outside of Gaza and the surrounding areas?

The Nigerian delegate at the Security Council briefs the meeting of the World Health Organisation on Saturday. (AP Photo)

Syntyche Smith

After hours of WHO deliberation, the talks have finally changed direction towards deciding how to deal with the impending biological terrorist threat of aerosol based smallpox. Russia does not believe in the validity of Hamas’s threats. Nor do they believe that Hamas can be taken seriously. However, India feels that Hamas has been known to follow through on its threats, thus the acquisition of smallpox virus by this organization cannot be taken lightly.

The focus of deliberations seems to be on mobilizing large amounts of vaccinations in Gaza and the surrounding area, with a focus on giving vaccines to Israel. Though no one can argue the likelihood of Israel being attacked by this imminent biological threat, one must question if the view taken by the WHO is too narrow. Perhaps the immobilizing, stockpiling and production of new stocks of vaccines against the small pox virus should be a directed towards nations other than those in the region.