|
|||||
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
 |
 |
    |
|
|
|||
 |
|
||
|
|||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Iraq: Russian Scientist Might Have Delivered Potent Smallpox Strain A Russian virologist might have brought an especially lethal strain of the smallpox virus to Iraq in 1990, according to a CIA informant, the New York Times reported today (see GSN, Nov. 30). Officials from the CIA are attempting to verify that Nelja Maltseva — who died two years ago — visited Iraq in 1990 and brought with her a strain of virus developed in the Soviet Union. Malseva worked at Moscow’s Research Institute for Viral Preparations for more than 30 years. Soviet scientists tested a strain of the smallpox virus on Vozrozhdeniye Island in the Aral Sea and caused an outbreak of smallpox in what is now Kazakhstan, according to a report from the U.S.-based Monterey Institute of International Studies (see GSN, June 17). The link between the open air test and the epidemic could point to a more contagious and vaccine-resistant strain of smallpox, according to Alan Zelicoff, a scientist at Sandia National Laboratory and a co-author of the Monterey report. It is this strain that Malseva might have brought to Iraq, an informant has told the CIA. Malseva visited Iraq in 1972 and 1973 as part of the worldwide effort to eradicate smallpox. Denials Svetlana Sergeyevna Marennikova — Maltseva’s deputy at the viral institute — said that she did not know of her boss taking any trips to Iraq. “She worked, and then when she got sick, she took a sick leave when she was no longer able to work,” Marennikova said. “I don’t know about Iraq. I didn’t know about a trip there. I don’t think she was there. I would know,” she added. Maltseva’s daughter, a Moscow doctor, said she does not know of her mother taking any trips to Iraq. Russian officials have confidentially admitted that Maltseva brought strains of the Vozrozhdeniye Island smallpox back to Moscow, but said that those strains were destroyed when Russian smallpox stockpiles were moved to their current, internationally sanctioned Moscow laboratory, according to the U.S. officials. Many in the U.S. government and scientific community, however, believe Russia probably did not destroy those strains. The military took control of the particularly virulent strains when the move was made, according to former Soviet germ warfare scientists. Lack of Cooperation The possible existence of a strain of smallpox virus that is resistant to current vaccines has renewed U.S. interest in obtaining information from Russia. That information is not forthcoming, despite an agreement last year between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President George W. Bush to cooperate in fighting biological terrorism, according to the Times. “There is information we would like the Russians to share as a partner of ours,” said William Winkenwerder Jr., U.S. assistant secretary of defense for health affairs. “Because if there are strains that present a unique problem with respect to vaccines and treatment, it is in the interests of all freedom-loving people to have as much information as possible,” he added. Officials have speculated that Russia has not been forthcoming with information because of military secrecy or Putin’s own aversion to sharing state secrets. “The record so far suggests he is either unable or unwilling to push the military on this front,” an administration official said. “We think it may be a little of both, but we’re not really sure at this point or what to do about it,” he added (Judith Miller, New York Times, Dec. 3).
| ||||||||||
Back to top
