An Anniversary Worth Celebrating

On October 26th, 1977, a hospital cook in Somalia named Ali Maow Maalin was diagnosed with smallpox. What makes this so remarkable is that no naturally-occurring cases of smallpox have been diagnosed in the 32 years since.
The global eradication of smallpox was certified, based on intense verification activities in countries, by a commission of eminent scientists on 9 December 1979 and subsequently endorsed by the World Health Assembly on 8 May 1980[10][48] as Resolution WHA33.3. The first two sentences of the resolution read: "Having considered the development and results of the global program on smallpox eradication initiated by WHO in 1958 and intensified since 1967 … Declares solemnly that the world and its peoples have won freedom from smallpox, which was a most devastating disease sweeping in epidemic form through many countries since earliest time, leaving death, blindness and disfigurement in its wake and which only a decade ago was rampant in Africa, Asia and South America."[49]

Smallpox once killed millions of people every year, and may have been responsible for up to 500 million deaths in the 20th century. National vaccination programs began in the early 1800s, but it was a global push by the World Health Organization begun in 1958 that finally led to the eradication of the disease worldwide. Link -via Bad Astronomy Blog

(image credit: CDC)

Newest 5
Newest 5 Comments

Yeah, these anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists that are making sure their kids don't get shots are doing society a disservice with unnecessary risk of outbreaks, at the expense of their self-assured ignorance. That whole Jim Carry & Jenny McCarthy thing ticks me off.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Yes this is an event worth celebrating yet there are people that refuse to vaccinate their kids today because the vaccinations are thought to be dangerous. A few cases of polio, whooping cough and who knows what else and we'll all be clamoring for those same vaccines.
I'm glad the CDC keeps strains of eradicated diseases is in case we stumble upon a dormant bug somewhere we thought was gone.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
This is an excellent time to examine our efforts to eradicate Polio. There are only ten countries that are stopping WHO and Rotary from also ridding the world of that plague.

http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/News/Pages/091022_news_worldpoliodayvideo.aspx
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Login to comment.
Email This Post to a Friend
"An Anniversary Worth Celebrating"

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More