They were surprised to find that the samples contained a small number of fragments of variola virus — the genetic remains of infection with the virus that causes smallpox. (acsh.org)
The WHO last considered destroying the lab stocks in 2007, when it postponed the decision pending an assessment of whether more research on the live variola virus was needed. (scientificamerican.com)
This past December, WHO's smallpox advisory committee reported that the organization was «finalizing arrangements for the destruction of cloned variola virus DNA fragments that have been stored in South Africa.» (sciencemag.org)