American scientists deliberately engineered a new, extra-deadly form of mousepox that kills all mice, even those that have been vaccinated, and much the same result has been accomplished with cowpox and rabbitpox. The new variety of rabbitpox is not contagious, however, which could add to its value as a terrorist weapon if the disease were ever to cross the species barrier, because its application could be narrowly targeted. Other researchers were trying to get permission from the World Health Organization to develop a new strain of smallpox that will infect monkeys.
American scientists deliberately engineered a new, extra-deadly form of mousepox that kills all mice, even those that have been vaccinated, and much the same result has been accomplished with cowpox and rabbitpox. The new variety of rabbitpox is not contagious, however, which could add to its value as a terrorist weapon if the disease were ever to cross the species barrier, because its application could be narrowly targeted. Other researchers were trying to get permission from the World Health Organization to develop a new strain of smallpox that will infect monkeys.
