Pox stocks

The US has decided to start making smallpox vaccine again, 20 years after the
disease was officially eradicated, for fear of a biological weapon attack. Some
scientists insist that the existing stockpile of 15 million doses would contain
any smallpox-based attack
(New Scientist, 29 July, p 14). Nevertheless,
BioReliance of Rockville, Maryland, will start work this year on an initial
order of 300 000 doses for the US military. And later this month American health
officials will award a contract to produce a further 40 million doses.