What is the story of how smallpox was eradicated?

A house-to-house vaccination campaign within a 1.5 mile radius of her home began immediately, and every house, public meeting area, school, and healer within 5 miles was visited by a member of the Smallpox Eradication Program team to ensure the illness did not spread. read more

Smallpox was officially declared eradicated in 1980 and is the first disease to have been fought on a global scale. This extraordinary achievement was accomplished through the collaboration of countries around the world. At the end of the 1960s, smallpox was still endemic in Africa and Asia. read more

By the time the Intensified Eradication Program began in 1967, smallpox had already been eliminated in North America (1952) and Europe (1953), leaving South America, Asia, and Africa (smallpox was never widespread in Australia). read more

World Health Organization declares smallpox eradicated 1980 Photo: Poster published by World Health Organization at Geneva, Switzerland, after declaration of eradiction of smallpox on earth, May 8, 1980. read more