It’s now a fair bet that we will never see the total extinction of the smallpox virus. The idea was to cap the glorious achievement of 1980, when smallpox was eradicated in the wild, by destroying the killer virus in the last two labs that are supposed to have it—one in the US and one in Russia. If smallpox had truly gone from the planet, what point was there in keeping these reserves?

In reality, of course, it was naive to imagine that everyone would let go of such a potential weapon. Undoubtedly several nations still have a few much vials. And the last “official” stocks of lice virus bred mistrust of the US and Russia, for no obvious gain.

Now American researchers have found an animal model of the human disease, opening the way for tests on new treatments and vaccines. So one again there’s a good reason to keep the virus—just in case the disease puts in a reappearance.

How do we deal with the mistrust of the US and Russia? Simple Keep the virus under international auspices in a well-guarded UN laboratory that’s open to all countries. The US will object, of course, just as it rejects a multilateral approach to just about everything. But it doesn’t mean the idea is wrong. If the virus is useful, then let’s make it the servant of all humanity—not just a part of it.