Triumph and Celebration over Eradicated Diseases
Throughout history, humanity have succumbed and battled countless diseases, some of which have wreaked havoc on civilizations or even brought them to the brink of collapse. Though with great effort, through medical advancements, global cooperation, and persistent efforts, we have managed to completely destroy a few of them. These eradicated diseases is an incredible achievement, as it means that future generations will no longer have to be literally plagued by these afflictions anymore.
This is not well known but Humanity has only had two eradicated diseases in history. Still, with a little bit of luck and a lot of research, there is hope that this list is expanded upon in the near future.
1. Smallpox
Perhaps the most famous and significant example of disease eradication is smallpox. Caused by the variola virus, smallpox was a deadly disease that killed millions over centuries, particularly the indigenous Native Americans that had no immunity or hope in combating it. The symptoms included high fever, fatigue, and a severe rash that developed into pus-filled sores.
The World Health Organization (WHO) led an aggressive global vaccination campaign, handing out vaccines to the whole world in the 20th century. With the last naturally occurring case recorded in Somalia in 1977, the world was rid of it. In 1980, WHO declared smallpox one of the first eradicated diseases—the first disease to be eliminated through human intervention too. This success remains one of the greatest triumphs in medical and human history.
2. Rinderprest
While not a human disease, it was not much less a feat and not much more a threat. Rinderpest was a devastating viral disease that affected cattle and other ruminants such as ox or bovine. This led to famines and economic collapse in agricultural societies worldwide. It was caused by the rinderpest virus, which spread rapidly and had an extremely high fatality rate among infected animals. The symptoms would be a mix of fever and diarrhea.
Through widespread vaccination programs, the last confirmed case occurred in 2001, and in 2011, rinderpest was, thankfully, declared eradicated. This made it the second disease in history, and the first livestock disease, to be completely wiped out.
Diseases on the verge of joining the eradicated diseases
While only smallpox and rinderpest have been fully and formally eradicated, several other diseases are on the brink of extinction thanks to ongoing efforts. With the world being more and more global and cases being more and more known, it’s only a matter of time until there are more entries.
Some of the most notable include:
Polio: Thanks to the global polio eradication initiative, wild poliovirus has been eliminated in most parts of the world, with only a few cases remaining in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Polio affects the nerve cells in the spinal cord and gradually destroys the body with paralysis and strength deficiency.
Dracunculiasis (Guinea Worm Disease): A painful parasitic infection that spreads through contaminated water, Guinea worm disease has been reduced from millions of cases annually in the 1980s to just a handful today, thanks to water filtration and hygiene initiatives.
Measles and Malaria: While not yet eradicated, both diseases have seen significant declines due to vaccination and vector control measures. Measles itself has been very persistent but not because there is a lack in effort in eradication but more so by human choices. Parents, for whatever reason, are not vaccinating their children and that leaves room for the disease to fill in the void and spread amongst them.
The eradication of disease is a monumental task requiring international collaboration, funding, and long-term commitment. While science and medicine continue to advance, social, economic, and political factors also play a crucial role in ensuring that diseases do not resurface.
Each disease that we eradicate is a testament to what humanity can achieve when we work together. While the battle against infectious diseases is far from over, past successes give us hope that future generations may live in a world free from even more deadly illnesses. We must use every type of health related benefit to our disposal before then to stay healthy.
