Ectromelia virus (ECTV) mousepox

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2001 New Scientist - Killer mousepox virus raises bioterror fears
A virus that kills every one of its victims, by wiping out part of their immune system, has been accidentally created by an Australian research team.
Mousepox normally causes only mild symptoms in the type of mice used in the study, but with the IL-4 gene added it wiped out all the animals in nine days.
The discovery highlights a growing problem. How do you stop terrorists taking legitimate research and adapting it for their own nefarious purposes?
The virus, a modified mousepox, does not affect humans, but it is closely related to smallpox, raising fears that the technology could be used in biowarfare.