Smallpox is a disease that no longer exists in the wild. Thanks to a global vaccination campaign, it was officially declared eradicated by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1980. This represents a monumental achievement in public health.
Eradicated Diseases: A Closer Look
Two infectious diseases have been completely eradicated globally:
- Smallpox: A highly contagious disease caused by the Variola virus. The successful eradication of smallpox demonstrates the power of global collaboration in disease control.
- Rinderpest: A highly contagious viral disease affecting cattle and other ruminants. Its eradication shows the potential for eliminating animal diseases as well.
It's important to note that while other diseases have been eliminated from specific regions, only smallpox and rinderpest have been completely eradicated worldwide. Several diseases are targeted for eradication, but this is a complex and ongoing process.
The claim that no other diseases no longer exist is incorrect. The referenced article about polyautoimmunity discusses the presence of multiple autoimmune diseases, not the eradication of any disease. The mention of documents no longer existing in other references refers to the unavailability of documents, not the eradication of diseases.
