Written question asked by Lord Judd (Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Earl Howe (Conservative) on Monday, 16 May 2011.

Health: Smallpox

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the risk of a re-emergence of smallpox as a threat to public health; what precautionary measures they have in place to protect the public; and what agreements they have reached with governments of other nations known to be holding stocks of samples of the smallpox virus for research and other purposes.

Answer: The likelihood of smallpox re-emerging is considered to be low, but the impact upon public health of such an event is assessed as potentially severe. For this reason, the United Kingdom has contingency arrangements in place to protect it against this potential threat. These arrangements include: a robust and tested contingency plan, published on the department's website; a stockpile of vaccine sufficient to mount a UK-wide vaccination programme if this were required; a supply of vaccinia immunoglobulin to counter any adverse effects of vaccination amongst those who are immunocompromised or for whom vaccination is contra-indicated; a vaccinated cohort of frontline health workers to deal with any initial suspected or confirmed case of smallpox; prepared guidance for laboratories and clinicians on recognition, testing and treatment of smallpox; and national and international arrangements for information sharing to facilitate early warning and response to cases globally. All these precautionary measures are regularly reviewed. Arrangements with the other nations known to be holding stocks of variola virus for research purposes, which is the only agreed basis upon which remaining stocks are retained, are made through the World Health Organisation.

Secondary information