Among the following, identify the eradicated disease from the world?

Appeared in: ESIC Nursing Officer 2016 (Shift -2)

Explanation

Smallpox is the only human infectious disease to have been declared globally eradicated.
The World Health Assembly officially confirmed the eradication of smallpox in May 1980 following a successful global vaccination campaign.
Eradication was possible because the variola virus has no animal reservoir, and an effective vaccine was available.
The last naturally occurring case was recorded in 1977.

Option A: Polio is not yet globally eradicated. While wild poliovirus types 2 and 3 have been eradicated, wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) continues to have endemic transmission in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Option B: Swine flu, caused by the H1N1 influenza virus, has not been eradicated. It continues to circulate worldwide as a seasonal flu virus.
Option C: Rabies is a viral disease transmitted from animals (a zoonosis) and is still a significant public health threat in many countries, far from being eradicated.

Visual 1: Table: A comparison table defining and giving examples for Disease Control, Elimination, and Eradication.
Visual 2: Infographic: A world map showing the timeline of smallpox eradication, highlighting the last reported cases by continent.
Visual 3: Chart: A line graph showing the dramatic decline in the number of polio cases since the launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Global Disease Eradication helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
The eradication of smallpox is a testament to the power of global public health collaboration and vaccination programs.
Nurses are at the forefront of disease prevention, playing a critical role in administering vaccines, educating communities about the importance of immunization, and participating in surveillance activities to detect and report cases of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Understanding the difference between elimination and eradication helps nurses explain public health goals to patients and counter misinformation about vaccines.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question: 'eradicated'. This has a very specific meaning in public health.
Recall the definition of eradication: the permanent reduction to zero of a disease worldwide, with no further control measures needed.
Evaluate each option against this strict definition.
Recall that Smallpox is the classic and only example of a human disease that has been successfully eradicated.
Eliminate Polio, as you may recall it is still reported in the news as being present in a few countries.
Eliminate Swine flu and Rabies, as they are known to be currently circulating or persistent diseases.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full ESIC Nursing Officer 2016 (Shift -2)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.