I was reading a post by someone, a few years ago, lamenting that we had “killed” a virus.
I am not 100% sure they were being serious, but they gave every indication that they were.
In any case, I’m sure that some bioweapons lab, somewhere (like, maybe, in Frederick, MD) has samples of the virus, “just in case it comes back.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smallpox_virus_retention_debat...
Damn I just though I could have been a left arm bicep model.
Of course however we store that genomic code had better be on physical media in a sealed vault that isn’t even within spitting distance of anything with an internet connection.
If it's going to be preserved, I think I'm happier with it not being digital and stored in highly secured areas by professionals, but perhaps the threat model in my head isn't accurate enough.
That's already been done, I think.
That is, if smallpox or another new disease shows up, I hope that vaccine development will be quicker and quicker.
Just in case you didn't have enough things to worry about!