World Health Assembly (WHA) Resolution 60.1 mandates that the World Health Organization (WHO) inspect the two authorized repositories of variola virus (smallpox virus) every two years. The resolution also requests that reports of those inspections be made publicly available. The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has one authorized repository of the virus in Atlanta, GA, USA and Vector: Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of Russian Federation State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology has the other authorized repository in Novosibirsk, Russia. WHO has made reports of the inspections available at the link provided in this resource’s documentation. 

The file provided includes a description of all the proceedings at the Sixtieth World Health Assembly (WHA). The WHA takes place every May at the United Nations (UN) in Geneva Switzerland and is attended by delegates from all 194 UN Member States. There was an additional WHA in November 2021. While several resolutions were passed during the 60th WHA, we believe that WHA 60.1 is of particular interest. WHA 60.1 may provide a precedent for international standards intended to prevent the escape of highly dangerous pathogens from labs. It may therefore be relevant to international legislative leaders.