40th anniversary of smallpox eradication
Amidts the worldwide pandemic of COVID-19, we are reminded that 8th of May 2020 marked 40 years since the eradication smallpox.
It is the only human disease to be eradicated and is one of only two infectious diseases to have been totally eradicated, the other being rinderpest in 2011.[1] [2]
Smallpox is highly contagious and transmitted via droplets and person-to-person contact. Early symptoms include high fever, extensive rash, and lesions. Mortality rate was high at 30% and 65-80% of smallpox survivors permanently scarred with deep pockmarks.[3]
Smallpox is an ancient disease. Its origin is unknown[4] but its earliest evidence dates back to 3rd Century Egypt.[5] Inoculation for smallpox appears to originate from China circa 1500s.[6] [7] In early 18th Century, Europe adopts this and in 1796, Edward Jenner introduced the modern smallpox vaccine.[8] [9] Jenner was an English physician who studied at the University of St Andrews (Scotland) and apprenticed at St George’s Hospital (Tooting)[10] and is often called a pioneer of immunisation, deploying such methods before the discovery of germ theory.[11] Jenner inoculated humans with live vaccinia virus (cowpox) to successfully demonstrate protection against smallpox.
The last natural case of smallpox in the world occurred in the UK in 1978. In 1979, and after a coordinated public health effort, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared smallpox eradicated. However, research samples still exist in the United States and Russia.[12]
The WHO, in 1986, first recommended destroying all reserves of the virus. This was postponed to 1993 and again in 1999. Since 2002, destruction of the remaining stocks of smallpox virus has been postponed by the World Health Assembly.
“As we reflect today on the eradication of #smallpox, 40 years ago, the greatest public health triumph in history, we’re reminded of what is possible when nations come together to confront a common foe, to confront a common enemy.”
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Video: https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1258730767548645376/video/1
The Jenner Institute : https://www.ndm.ox.ac.uk/the-jenner-institute
Written & distributed by: Dr Elizabeth Dubois, WHO Senior Research Associate
[1] Guidotti TL (2015). Health and Sustainability: An Introduction. Oxford University Press. p. T290. ISBN 978-0-19-932568-9.
[2] Roossinck MJ (2016). Virus: An Illustrated Guide to 101 Incredible Microbes. Princeton University Press. p. 126. ISBN 978-1-4008-8325-7.
[3] https://www.who.int/biologicals/vaccines/smallpox/en/ (Accessed : 08May 2020).
[4] "History of Smallpox". CDC. 25 July 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
[5] https://www.who.int/biologicals/vaccines/smallpox/en/ [Accessed : 08 May 2020].
[6] Needham J (2000). Science and Civilisation in China: Volume 6, Biology and Biological Technology, Part 6, Medicine. Cambridge University Press. p. 134. ISBN 978-0-521-63262-1. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
[7] Silverstein AM (2009). A History of Immunology (2nd ed.). Academic Press. p. 293. ISBN 9780080919461.
[8] Wolfe RM, Sharp LK (August 2002). "Anti-vaccinationists past and present" (PDF). BMJ. 325 (7361): 430–2. doi:10.1136/bmj.325.7361.430. PMC 1123944. PMID 12193361.
[9] "Smallpox vaccines". WHO. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
[10] "Young Edward Jenner, Born in Berkeley". Edward Jenner Museum. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
[11] "How did Edward Jenner test his smallpox vaccine?". Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
[12] https://www.who.int/biologicals/vaccines/smallpox/en/ (Accessed : 08May 2020).