§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will discuss with the Israeli Government reports that it is maintaining stocks of smallpox virus; and whether this is in accordance with its international commitments under the World Health Assembly Resolution of 25 May 1996 on the destruction of variola virus stocks. [HL1441]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanWorld Health Assembly (WHA) Resolution 39.4 of May 1980 recommended that remaining stocks of the variola virus should be confined to a limited number of sites. The World Health Organisation confirmed in 1996 that the stocks are now held at two specific locations, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Atlanta and the Russian Centre for Virology and Biotechnology at Koltsovo. The UK is unaware of any stocks of the virus located in other countries.