After Thousands Of Years Infecting Humans, Finally Smallpox Can Be Eradicated

Child diagnosed with smallpox (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - On December 9, 1979, the commission of scientists stated that smallpox was successfully eradicated. The disease, which carries a 30 percent risk of death for sufferers, was the only infectious disease that was officially eradicated at that time.

Quoting History, Wednesday December 9th, smallpox has damaged mankind for thousands of years. Its earliest recorded appearance is in Indian records from the 2nd century BC.

Some even believe that Ramesses V died of smallpox in 1145 BC. However, recent research suggests that the true smallpox virus may have evolved as late as 1580 AD. Inoculation was widely practiced in China in the 16th century.

There was no record of a disease like smallpox in the United States (US) prior to European contact. The fact that Europeans carried smallpox was a major factor in the conquest and eradication of many indigenous peoples in North, South and Central America.

In 1796, British scientist Edward Jenner invented the smallpox vaccine. Unlike other inoculations, Jenner's vaccine is made from a closely related disease that affects cattle but does not carry a risk of transmission.

By the time the smallpox eradication program began in 1967, smallpox had been eradicated in North America (1952) and Europe (1953), leaving South America, Asia, and Africa. The program is making steady progress in cleaning the world of this disease. In 1971 smallpox was successfully eradicated in South America, followed by Asia (1975) and finally Africa (1977).

The last severe smallpox

In late 1975, Rahima Banu, a three year old girl from Bangladesh, was the last person in Asia to suffer from still-deadly smallpox. She was isolated at home with a house guard on duty 24 hours until she was no longer contagious.

A house-to-house vaccination campaign within a 1.5 mile radius of his home began immediately. Every home, general meeting area, and school, receives a visit from members of the Smallpox Eradication Program team to ensure the disease does not spread. Rewards are also offered to anyone who reports a case of smallpox.

In addition, Ali Maow Maalin is also known to be the last person to get smallpox caused by Variola minor. Maalin is a hospital cook in Merca, Somalia.

On October 22, 1977, he developed a fever. Initially he was diagnosed with malaria. He was diagnosed with smallpox by the smallpox eradication staff on October 30, 1977. Maalin was isolated and made a full recovery.

Two years later, doctors announced that smallpox had been eradicated in the world. Maalin died of malaria on 22 July 2013 while campaigning to eradicate polio.

Many European countries and US states require infant vaccinations and smallpox cases decreased during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Compared to other epidemic diseases, such as polio or malaria, the eradication of smallpox is relatively simple because it only lives in humans.

Vaccination in humans is very effective at stopping its spread and the symptoms appear quickly, making it easy to identify and isolate outbreaks. The eradication of smallpox is one proof, great success in the history of science, especially medical.