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146 results for "smallpox eradication"
A devastating parasitic disease that once infected 3.5 million people annually is down to just 10 human cases worldwide. Guinea worm is on track to become only the second human disease ever eradicated, after smallpox.
Smallpox killed 300 million people in the 20th century alone, but today it no longer exists in nature. The story of how one curious doctor's experiment led to the only disease humans have ever completely wiped out offers powerful hope for modern health challenges.
The public health giant who led the successful effort to wipe smallpox off the face of the Earth has died at 89. William Foege's work saved hundreds of millions of lives and inspired a generation of global health leaders.
A new study reveals how Copenhagen wiped out deadly smallpox in just seven years during the early 1800s, offering powerful lessons for modern vaccine campaigns. The disease killed 3 in 10 infected people before vaccines changed everything.
For 3,000 years, smallpox killed three in ten people it infected. Today, thanks to a daring 1796 experiment, it's the only human disease ever completely erased from Earth.
An American doctor visited an Indian ashram in 1973 seeking guidance and left with a mission that helped eradicate an ancient disease. Dr. Larry Brilliant's encounter with spiritual teacher Neem Karoli Baba redirected his career toward one of humanity's greatest medical victories.
Global researchers gathered in Seattle to accelerate the science needed to eradicate polio forever. Their innovations are bringing the world closer than ever to a disease that once paralyzed hundreds of thousands of children each year.
Rotary International's incoming president is making polio eradication his top priority while launching an AI literacy program to equip young people with future-ready skills. With membership growth targets and humanitarian peace initiatives, the organization is expanding its global impact. #
Scientists accidentally discovered smallpox DNA in 400-year-old Chilean remains, confirming how the disease reached the Americas. The genetic evidence reveals not just history, but how viruses evolve to survive.
Only 10 cases of Guinea worm disease were reported worldwide in 2025, bringing humanity one step closer to wiping out the second human disease ever. This marks a 99.99% reduction from 3.5 million annual cases just 40 years ago.
A small Central African nation is launching a bold plan to become malaria-free within five years, using vaccines, genetically modified mosquitoes, and drone technology. After achieving a 75% drop in child malaria cases on one island, Equatorial Guinea is scaling up nationwide.
After more than two centuries of damage, Australia's Kangaroo Island has officially eliminated its entire feral pig population in what experts are calling a world-first achievement. The massive effort turned a devastating bushfire disaster into an opportunity to save the island's future.
After decades of global vaccination efforts, polio cases have plummeted by 99 percent, bringing humanity to the edge of completely eradicating this devastating disease. The final push requires sustained commitment, but the finish line is finally within reach.
After nearly 40 years of work, the world is closer than ever to wiping out Guinea worm disease, with only 10 cases reported in 2025. If successful, it will be only the second human disease ever eradicated.
In a world-first conservation win, Northern Ireland has successfully removed an invasive ferret population from Rathlin Island, home to over 250,000 seabirds. Puffins, razorbills, and other birds can now nest safely for the first time in generations.
A single pest detection in Auckland sparked a rapid response that saved New Zealand's $9.2 billion horticulture industry from disaster. Six weeks later, the country is officially fruit fly free again.
Ethiopia has successfully eliminated its first-ever Marburg virus outbreak, earning global praise for its swift response and community-centered approach. The victory shows how strong leadership and public trust can stop deadly diseases in their tracks.
New Zealand has destroyed 43 invasive yellow-legged hornet nests in just three months, with nearly half discovered thanks to alert citizens. The country now has a genuine shot at stopping one of the world's most damaging invasive insects before it becomes established.
A tiny island off Northern Ireland just became the first place in the world to completely eliminate invasive ferrets, and seabirds are already bouncing back. The five-year mission included a one-eyed hero dog named Woody.
A disease that once paralyzed thousands of children every year has been nearly eradicated through one of history's most successful vaccination campaigns. Rotary International and its partners have reduced polio cases by 99.9% worldwide since 1988, saving more than 20 million people from paralysis.
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