Small Pox

[CHRIS VILJOEN - STUDENT]

I have been following the debate as to whether the small pox virus
should be maintained in terms of keeping bio-diversity, danger of
release and cost of maintainence etc.  If the virus is maintained there
is a danger of  release BUT better the devil you know than the devil
you don't know.  One important consideration in science is NEVER
destroy material.  The fact that the pox virus played such an
important role in health science and may again sometime in the future
makes it critical to preserve this virus in some form.  Albeit
genetic material or something.  Future generations may need to
re-study the virus in order to supply answers for other questions.
Hindsight is wonderful but has no use in the present.