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The smallpox virus, one of the biggest killers in history, has won a temporary stay from its planned execution next week because some scientists have begun to argue that the virus could yield useful medical knowledge about smallpox and maybe other diseases.

Health officials in the United States and Russia, who hold the last known stocks of the smallpox virus, had planned to destroy them in a simultaneous execution by New Year's Eve.

The recommendation was announced by the World Health Organization three years ago with the agreement of both countries. But both have now decided to delay destruction while some last-minute doubts about the wisdom of such a final step are debated.

The disease caused by the smallpox virus was declared eradicated in 1980. It was arguably public health's greatest triumph because smallpox is the only disease that has been wiped out. Stocks of the virus have been kept frozen in liquid nitrogen in two closely guarded laboratories in Atlanta and Moscow for research purposes where laboratory scientists have been amassing as much knowledge as possible about the virus's basic structure in anticipation of its destruction. The virus, known as variola, is expected to be destroyed by heating the remaining stocks to very high temperatures in autoclaves.

The main focus of the research has been to create a genetic map of the variola, which belongs to the family of pox viruses.

If the stocks of the virus are destroyed, health officials say it would be the first time any species had been deliberately wiped out.

But with the deadline a week away, "there's no movement toward doing it the end of this year," Dr. Walter R. Dowdle, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in an interview yesterday. The centers hold the American stocks of the virus.

A meeting is being planned at the health organization's headquarters in Geneva next month so virologists and other experts can review the progress made in genetically mapping the virus and determine whether other things still should be done, Dr. Dowdle said.

Health officials had planned to destroy the virus to reduce the security costs associated with preserving it and to avoid the threat that the stocks could accidentally escape from a laboratory, be seized by terrorists or sold by financially troubled researchers or political leaders.

But the execution has been postponed for several reasons.

One is a last-minute debate among scientists over the wisdom of destroying a virus for which scientists have little understanding. Scientists do not know why the variola virus infected humans and was so deadly, killing up to 40 percent of the people in infected. Smallpox begins like the flu with non-specific symptoms but then goes on to cause a rash, usually first over the face and then on the body and limbs. The healed rash often left pockmarks and blinded victims.

Yet a closely related virus, vaccinia, is what led to the eradication of smallpox. The vaccinia virus formed the basis of the vaccine that was used since 1796 to prevent smallpox. In asking for a stay of execution, some experts have expressed hopes that additional research will help explain why one virus was lethal and the other beneficial.

Opponents of the virus's destruction also argue that further research could provide invaluable opportunities to learn about the way other viruses harm humans. In addition, some experts contend that studies of smallpox virus might provide clues in the battles against other scourges, including cancer.

"Everybody's feeling is, what's the hurry, give it a little more time and let's talk further about this," Dr. Dowdle said.

He added: "The Russians are going through the same process. There are camps that feel the virus should be destroyed and other camps that want to keep it."

The expert committee that meets in Geneva next month is expected to make a recommendation to the health organization about the fate of the smallpox virus. If it recommends destruction, the final decision may be put to the annual meeting of the organization in May.

Destruction could occur anytime afterward.

"No one is rushing to the autoclave," Dr. Dowdle said.

If the stocks of smallpox virus are destroyed and the disease ever returns from hidden stocks, health officials say that there are sufficient stores of vaccine and that more could easily be made.

(cite provided by snopes)