Smallpox eradication - amazonia.fiocruz.br

Smallpox eradication - what words

The history of smallpox extends into pre-history, with the disease probably emerging in human populations about 10, BC. During the 18th century the disease killed an estimated , Europeans each year, including five reigning monarchs , and was responsible for a third of all blindness. During the 20th century, it is estimated that smallpox was responsible for — million deaths. It has been suggested that smallpox was a major component of the Plague of Athens that occurred in BCE, during the Peloponnesian Wars , and was described by Thucydides. Galen 's description of the Antonine Plague , which swept through the Roman Empire in — CE, indicates that it was probably caused by smallpox. The Roman empire stopped to grow as a consequence on these two plagues, according to historians like Theodore Mommsen.

Smallpox eradication - pity, that

On Friday 11 August , Janet Parker was getting ready for work when her head started to pound. She thought she was coming down with flu: she felt sore all over. She and Joseph, a Post Office telecoms engineer, lived in a modest house in Kings Norton, a quiet suburb of Birmingham. They had two dogs, and were close to her parents, who lived nearby. She got into a grammar school and stayed on beyond 16, unlike many children from her background. Smallpox eradication

This year,the world is Smallpox eradication the year anniversary of the declaration of the eradication of smallpox. The eradication of smallpox showed us that with political commitment, targeted action, community engagement and quality operations, scientific advancements, continuous evaluation, and global partnerships, the world can eradicate a disease. Before it was eradicated, smallpox caused by variola virus was a contagious, deadly disease that affected global communities for thousands of years.

Smallpox was spread mainly by direct and prolonged face-to-face contact between people through droplets from the nose and Smallpox eradication more info infected individuals coughed or sneezed —— similar to how many other infectious diseases are spread.

Navigation menu

People with smallpox developed skin sores and rashes, and about 3 of every 10 people with smallpox died. Many countries attempted over centuries to control the spread Smallpox eradication smallpox through various methods, such as variolationthe process of inoculating a person Smallpox eradication material taken from the sores of a smallpox patient. In the late 18 th century, several medical practitioners, including Edward Jenner, experimented with inoculating people with cowpox virus to protect against smallpox. Although the precise origin of smallpox vaccine remains obscure, these early efforts using cowpox virus called vaccinia virus by Jenner led to broader use of the practice, forming the beginning of what we now know as vaccination.

Following years of country-based efforts to combat and contain smallpox outbreaks, and after considerable contention, the World Health Organization WHO initiated a plan in to eradicate the disease. Despite many challenges, planners understood the eradication effort would be facilitated by the ease of disease recognition and absence of an eradicwtion reservoir. One of the first eradication-related initiatives was to develop methods to standardize the quality Smalpox vaccine. Bythe program intensified from a mass vaccination program to a targeted, community-focused approach that Smallpox eradication local volunteers in the community in a collaborative strategy.

Two public health pillars of the global eradication campaign became the mainstay of the efforts and still used today: disease surveillance and immunization. However, the campaign faced an uphill battle to successfully create a resourced global partnership with funding, personnel, commitment from countries, and sufficient vaccine supply and special needles needed to deliver the vaccine. Bysmallpox was eradicated from South America, followed by Asia inand finally Africa in —— leading to the official declaration of global smallpox eradication in Ecuador, : Last known case of variola major on the continent Brazil, April 19, : Last known case of variola minor on the continent.

These lessons learned may now be applied to the goals of eradicating wild poliovirus and Guinea Worm. Not only can we learn from the measures taken prior Smallpox eradication the eradication of smallpox, but we can also learn much from the ongoing work and research conducted to ensure Smallpox eradication world is prepared for disease outbreaks in the future. Today, public health professionals still employ two key strategies Smallpox eradication eradication — immunization and disease surveillance — and regularly evaluate these efforts to strengthen programs addressing complex public health threats.

We know that science is always evolving, but these lessons from the success of smallpox eradication should bring us confidence in our ability to improve Smallpox eradication global health outcomes, so long as Smallpox eradication base our strategies in science and its advancements, engagement of communities, and secure political commitment. In our disease surveillance efforts, we must be vigilant about timely https://amazonia.fiocruz.br/scdp/blog/woman-in-black-character-quotes/the-impact-of-consent-on-professional-practice.php and reporting of relevant data.

Focusing on these key areas will help public health programs be agile in response to potential changes that may occur in the planned response to an outbreak.

We must also ensure that our public health campaigns are culturally relevant and engage communities. Global health requires the involvement and participation of people from many different ethnicities, religions, and countries.

To eradicate a disease, all citizens must feel respected and able to participate. Much like the campaigns to eradicate smallpox, successfully combatting pandemic diseases like COVID and others will require the commitment and collaboration Smallpox eradication countries across the world. The vast amount of resources required to fight outbreaks will depend on a global coalition of leaders who are committed to protecting their citizens and the global community. Therefore, we must use the lessons learned from smallpox and build on investments in global health security and the global COVID response to respond to emerging threats effectively, including the current COVID pandemic.

The sooner we Smallpox eradication together around the world to form a united front against infectious diseases, as we did in eradicating smallpox, the sooner we will move toward protecting all citizens of the world.

Your email address will not be published. Leave this field empty. Our Global Voices. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate.]