Smallpox is a disease which can be easily diagnosed by trained health workers without the need for laboratory support. During the eradication campaign, WHO produced training materials designed to help health staff recognize smallpox, distinguish it from chickenpox, and avoid common diagnostic errors.
LONDON (Reuters) - Suspected cases of the previously eradicated disease smallpox in eastern Uganda appear to be chickenpox and not the acute contagious disease, the World Health Organization said on ...
Smallpox is an acute contagious disease caused by the variola virus, a member of the orthopoxvirus family. It was one of the most devastating diseases known to humanity and caused millions of deaths before it was eradicated. It is believed to have existed for at least 3000 years. The smallpox vaccine, created by Edward Jenner in 1796, was the first successful vaccine to be developed. He ...
One of the deadliest diseases known to humans, smallpox remains the only human disease to have been eradicated. Many believe this achievement to be the most significant milestone in global public health.
Smallpox is the only infectious disease that’s been successfully eradicated. It was eradicated by a collaborative global vaccination programme led by the World Health Organization.
On 8 May 1980, the 33rd World Health Assembly officially declared: ‘The world and all its peoples have won freedom from smallpox.’ The declaration marked the end of a disease that had plagued humanity for at least 3 000 years, killing 300 million people in the 20th century alone. It was ended, thanks to a 10-year global effort, spearheaded by the World Health Organization, that involved ...