The Variola virus.

The Variola virus. © National Maritime Museum, London

Repro ID: H5071

Description: The Variola virus - the agent that causes smallpox. Since the late 1970s, the virus has been eradicated from the general public, and now exists only in specialist laboratories. Many fear that Variola from a laboratory could be used to develop smallpox as a bioterrorist weapon.

Creator: Centers for Disease Control, Public Health Images Library

Date: 20th Century

Credit line: Centers for Disease Control, Public Health Images Library