Which Disease Was Eradicated Globally in 1980 Thanks to Immunization Efforts?

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which disease was eradicated globally in 1980 thanks to immunization efforts

Many years ago, the smallpox virus evolved and affected many people. This deadly virus causes smallpox which is a communicable disease. The last outbreak of this deadly disease took place in 1949. It has affected the global population through time-to-time outbreaks and caused many deaths. Since 1980, the world has not registered any case of smallpox and the World Health Organization declared smallpox eradication from the world. Read this entire article to learn more about which disease was eradicated globally in 1980 thanks to immunization efforts!

Also Read: How to Become a Virologist?

What is Smallpox?

Smallpox is a deadly disease caused by the variola virus and it is one of the most dangerous contagious diseases. A person suffering from this disease will have a high fever and skin rash. It takes time for the skin to settle into a normal state during the process of healing. 

Source: Osmosis from Elsevier

Many people recovered from smallpox but as per the survey by CDC, 3 out of 10 people died due to this disease.

Smallpox eradication was possible with the help of smallpox vaccination.

Also Read: Vaccination Rules for Students

Who Discovered Smallpox Vaccine?

smallpox
Source: biopharma-reporter.com

Dr Edward Jenner an English physician and scientist discovered the smallpox vaccine in May 1796. He found out that people infected with cowpox are immune to smallpox so he used this observation to prevent smallpox.

All thanks to the immunization efforts made by Edward Jenner. The last natural outbreak of the disease was observed in the United States in 1949. WHO has declared that smallpox was globally eradicated in 1977.

Also Read: MSc Virology

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FAQs

What disease was eradicated in 1980?

The record states that, in 1980 smallpox was eradicated from the world as per the announcement of the World Health Assembly.

When smallpox was eradicated from the world in 1980 why is it a threat today?

Yes, it is true that smallpox was eradicated in 1980 with the effective use of vaccination. But the vaccination ceased almost 20-25 years back. So, now there is a possibility that some people are susceptible to acquiring the smallpox virus and many are not immune against the virus. This could lead to the rapid spread of the disease in the world.

Who discovered the smallpox vaccine?

Dr Edward Jenner had discovered the smallpox vaccine in 1796.

Hope you got to know all the information about the question ‘Which disease was eradicated globally in 1980 thanks to immunization efforts’. The answer is smallpox eradicatio For more such trending events, keep reading our important days blogs on Leverage Edu to stay informed about the news and important dates in the world of education!

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