Eradication of Contagious Diseases

Overview

Based on analysis of eleven-year intense epidemiological intervention against smallpox, a numberof findings and demands ensued which should be met by an infectious disease to be included intothe programme of eradication or elimination.The author mentions several episodes from the programme of smallpox eradication in which heparticipated as a member of a WHO team. Part of the paper is a detailed explanation of the termseradication and elimination.The main part of the article is a characteristic of infections where the global programme oferadication or elimination is underway. At present the eradication of poliomyelitis and dracuncu-liasis is completed and elimination of tetanus of neonates as well as leprosy, all by the year 2000.By 2010 measles, possibly German measles and mumps should be eradicated and possibly leprosyand Chagas’ disease and onchocerciasis should be eliminated. Also for other infections such aslymphatic filariasis, trachoma and non-veneric treponematoses more remote terms are given or arenot yet given. Depending on the decision of WHO on the programme of global eradication, underprecisely defined conditions seven other infections may be included: cysticercosis (Taenia solium),diseases caused by Haemophilus influenzae b, viral hepatitis A, rotavirus enteritis, diphtheria,whooping cough and tuberculosis. In the case of viral hepatitis B only elimination is foreseen.

Key words:
eradication – smallpox – poliomyelitis – dracunculiasis – measles – lymphatic filariasis.