Question 1

was smallpox truly eradicated?

Accepted Answer

Smallpox: All natural sources of smallpox have been eradicated. The WHO announced World-wide eradication of Smallpox on May 8 1980. Smallpox has no animal reservoirs. So Smallpox would not return naturally.

Question 2

how did they do the eradication of smallpox?

Accepted Answer

Vaccination: Smallpox eradication was achieved through a massive worldwide vaccination program.

Question 3

what else have we eradicated besides smallpox?

Accepted Answer

That's it: That's it for now.  However, there are several labs and probably some dictators & terrorists that have a small supply. Polio is next by the who.

Question 4

could you tell me why haven't more diseases since smallpox been eradicated?

Accepted Answer

Because most: diseases have non-human reservoirs.  Rinderpest (cattle) has also been eradicated.

Question 5

can you tell me how and when was smallpox eradicated in india?

Accepted Answer

Last case in Somalia: Somalia, 1977, to be exact. Then the World Health Organization declared the world 'free' of small pox in 1980. It was a horrible disease, marked by a 30% fatality rate. The survivors could be seriously disfigured by the rash - deep seated, pus-filled pox. Since the rash was so noticeable, it was relatively easy to spot victims and vaccinate all around that source patient (ring vaccination).

Question 6

why haven't more diseases been eradicated since we got rid of smallpox?

Accepted Answer

Smallpox: Because most have animal reservoirs. Rinderpest (cattle plague) has been eradicated.

Question 7

can i get smallpox?

Accepted Answer

No: Small pox has been eliminated from any possible exposure.  There are two deposits of the virus left:  one in the CDC deep freeze in Atlanta and one in a similar place in Russia.  The only way you could get this disease would be by an act of terrorism which is very unlikely.

Question 8

is smallpox serious?

Accepted Answer

Deadly: Case fatality rate 30-100% depending on form and patient age. Patients were often bedridden with fever 102-4 for the week before spots came out. If they survived, it was 3-4 wks before the were no longer contageous and longer before they regained their strength.

Question 9

how is smallpox treated ?

Accepted Answer

No cases/ supportive: The world health organization declared smallpox eradicated in 1979 with the last known natural cases in 1977. During its active period the only known care was supportive. Some modern antivirals might have some benefit but without cases to treat there is no data to show effectiveness. As an illness it was unique in having no carrier insects or animals, only human to human transmission.

Question 10

how does smallpox spread?

Accepted Answer

Person to person: Contact with infectious material from an person with smallpox is how this was passed. There are no insects or animals that spread the germ. Since there has been no cases since 1977, we only hear about this from people worried it may resurface as a bioterror weapon.

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Was smallpox truly eradicated?

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Can you tell me how and when was smallpox eradicated in india?

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Why haven't more diseases been eradicated since we got rid of smallpox?

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