General Ronald K. Noble said in a statement. «We are already persuaded that the threat is real and present.» The World Health Organization said it is seeking to expand its 2.5 million dose stockpile of smallpox vaccines as part of precautions against a biological terrorism attack. «We need stockpiles of vaccines. We need stockpiles of those essential medications,» said Brad Kay, coordinator of the WHO's division on preparedness for accidental and deliberate epidemics. Smallpox is one of six highly lethal «Category A» diseases that public health experts believe could be used as a biological weapon. Others include anthrax, tularemia, botulism, and viruses such as Ebola. Kay stressed the importance of hospitals, scientists and public health agencies pooling information on an international level, which could help manage both a natural outbreak or a terror attack.
