Tag

Eradication

All articles tagged with #eradication

health10 days ago•13 min saved

Ring Vaccination: The Strategy That Ended Smallpox Worldwide

In May 1980 the WHO formally declared smallpox eradicated after a 13-year, roughly $300 million vaccination drive that used a ‘ring vaccination’ approach—targeting contacts around each case rather than mass vaccination—pioneered by Donald Henderson and William Foege. The last naturally acquired case was Ali Maow Maalin in Somalia (1977), with the final global case in a laboratory-related incident (Janet Parker, 1978). By the late 1970s the disease had been eliminated from most regions (South America by 1971, Indonesia 1972, India 1975, Bangladesh 1975, Ethiopia 1976), though continued lab stocks existed in two secure facilities (CDC in Atlanta and VECTOR in Koltsovo) and remain the subject of ongoing debate about destruction and biosecurity.

via Space Daily|

#eradication #health #ring-vaccination

science17 days ago•15 min saved

Lessons from the Sterile Fly Playbook for a New Screwworm Outbreak

The piece recounts how the U.S. defeated screwworms in 1966 via the Sterile Insect Technique—mass-releasing sterile flies developed by Edward Knipling and Raymond Bushland—after decades of outbreaks and early missteps, including Florida and Southwest eradication efforts and cross-border cooperation with Mexico; it warns that today’s re-emergence demands large-scale, preventative action and renewed funding for monitoring to avoid repeating past economic and agricultural losses.

via The Texas Tribune|

#bushland #eradication #knipling

science1 month ago•0 min saved

Texas confronts revived flesh-eating screwworm, rattling cattle sector

A New World screwworm case has been detected in Texas six decades after eradication in the U.S., triggering an aggressive response due to fears of significant disruption to the livestock industry.

via The Washington Post|

#cattle #eradication #livestock

public-health5 months ago•43 min saved

The ring vaccination that ended smallpox—and the man who led it

William Foege pioneered ring vaccination, a targeted strategy that stopped smallpox by vaccinating the right people around cases, transforming a centuries-old killer into a disease we no longer fear; his death underscores the danger of letting proven public-health progress fade as measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases resurge.

via vox.com|

#eradication #public-health #ring-vaccination

health5 months ago•4 min saved

Guinea worm nears eradication milestone as 2025 records drop to 10 human cases

Global health officials report a record-low 10 human guinea-worm cases in 2025 (in Chad, Ethiopia, and South Sudan), keeping the eradication program on track to potentially remove the parasite as a human-disease threat—only the second disease to be eradicated after smallpox. Animal infections persist in several countries, but case reporting, public education, and safer water measures continue to drive transmission down since 1986, with hundreds of millions of cases prevented.

via Ars Technica|

#carter-center #eradication #guinea-worm

health5 months ago•15 min saved

Guinea worm near-eradication as 2025 reports only 10 human cases, Carter Center says

The Carter Center reports that human Guinea worm infections dropped to a historic low of 10 cases in 2025, signaling the world is closing in on eradication of the disease.

via AP News|

#carter-center #eradication #global-health

health5 months ago•7 min saved

The Quiet Strategy That Ended Smallpox Worldwide

An op-ed tribute recounts how Bill Foege’s surveillance-containment method—proactive case finding, isolating cases, and vaccinating contacts—helped eradicate smallpox worldwide, including pivotal efforts in India after initial mass-vaccination resistance, and cemented a lasting legacy for public health.

via The Washington Post|

#bill-foege #eradication #health

health10 months ago•5 min saved

U.S. Reports First Human Cases of Flesh-Eating Screwworms and Bacteria

A rare case of flesh-eating screwworm in the U.S. has been reported in a traveler returning from Central America, but health officials say the risk to the public is very low due to the parasite's limited presence and effective containment measures. The screwworm, a fly whose larvae can cause severe tissue damage, mainly affects livestock but can infect humans through open wounds. Ongoing efforts in Central America and Mexico aim to control outbreaks, and the U.S. has prepared response plans to prevent further spread.

via PBS|

#eradication #health #parasite

health1 year ago•3 min saved

U.S. Launches $8.5M Initiative to Combat Devastating Screwworm Invasion

A parasitic fly known as the New World screwworm, previously eradicated from North and Central America, is re-emerging and spreading, threatening livestock, humans, and pets, prompting international efforts to control its population through sterile insect techniques and increased surveillance amid concerns about climate change and cattle movement.

via ScienceAlert|

#eradication #flesh-eating-fly #health

science-and-environment1 year ago•11 min saved

The Great Wall's Unexpected Battle Against the 'Man Devourer'

The new world screw worm, a parasitic fly that lays eggs in the wounds of warm-blooded animals, is resurging in Central America, threatening livestock and human health. Despite decades of eradication efforts using sterile male flies, the pest has reappeared in countries like Costa Rica and Panama, prompting calls for more advanced genetic solutions like gene drives. Factors such as climate change, deforestation, and migration may be contributing to the screw worm's comeback, challenging scientists and farmers to find effective control measures.

via The Telegraph|

#central-america #eradication #gene-drive

health2 years ago•10 min saved

"New Polio Vaccines Drive Global Eradication Efforts"

New polio vaccines are crucial for preventing outbreaks and achieving global eradication. While two of the three wild poliovirus serotypes have been eradicated, challenges remain with the last serotype and vaccine-derived polioviruses. Improved vaccines, testing, and sanitation efforts are essential to overcome these hurdles and protect children from this debilitating disease.

via Our World in Data|

#eradication #health #outbreaks

gaming2 years ago•2 min saved

"Helldivers 2: Uncovering the Truth Behind the Automaton Democracy"

In the latest Helldivers 2 Major Order, players noticed strange behavior from the Automatons, with some robots choosing not to fight and instead following players. This has sparked debate among players about whether the robots are attempting diplomacy or simply trying to survive eradication. Some players see it as a form of betrayal, while others speculate it could be an intended part of the game's lore. Regardless, players are advised to remain cautious and prepare with the best weapons and armor to ensure the liberation of planets from the Automatons.

via Video Gamer|

#automatons #eradication #gaming

health-history2 years ago•11 min saved

"Smallpox Victory's Lessons for 2024 Public Health Threats"

The improbable victory over smallpox, the last recorded case of naturally occurring variola major smallpox in 1975, holds lessons for health threats in 2024. Dr. Céline Gounder, a physician and epidemiologist, traveled to India and Bangladesh to capture the history of the smallpox eradication campaign, highlighting the stories of South Asian public health workers and survivors. The eradication leaders' unwarranted optimism and moral imagination, along with the need to respect local culture and address immediate needs, offer valuable lessons for confronting current public health challenges. The article emphasizes the importance of meeting people's basic needs and building trust to effectively respond to future health crises.

via NPR|

#epidemic #eradication #health-history

health-global-health2 years ago•4 min saved

"UK Urged to Maintain Funding as Global Polio Eradication Nears"

The world is on the brink of eradicating polio, with no confirmed cases of wild polio reported so far this year. Efforts to vaccinate and secure funding must continue to ensure the complete eradication of the disease, with the last cases reported on the borders of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The UK government is urged to maintain funding for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, as the absence of confirmed cases is "really encouraging" but the campaign needs to aggressively close any immunization gaps. Failure to eradicate polio in these last two endemic countries could lead to a global resurgence, with the potential for 200,000 new cases annually within 10 years.

via The Guardian|

#eradication #funding #global-health

health2 years ago•6 min saved

The Truth About Mosquitoes: Why Killing Them All Isn't the Solution

Mosquitoes are responsible for spreading diseases such as malaria, West Nile, Zika, and dengue, making them the world's deadliest animal. However, completely eradicating all mosquitoes is not feasible or advisable due to the diverse ecological roles they play and the potential adverse effects on ecosystems. Instead, experts suggest targeting specific disease-transmitting species, such as Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex, while preserving non-disease-transmitting species that fill ecological niches. Control strategies include specialized techniques like Wolbachia infection and gene editing, as well as non-chemical options like introducing fish to eat mosquito larvae. Education about mosquito control and responsible use of repellents is also crucial. Eliminating the worst mosquito species is possible but will require time and further research to develop effective and affordable tools. In the meantime, individuals should stay informed about mosquito-borne risks and take preventive measures to protect themselves.

via CNN|

#control-strategies #disease-control #ecosystem