In which year India declared a smallpox-free country by an International Commission for Assessment of Smallpox Eradication?

Appeared in: NVS Staff Nurse - 2019

Explanation

India was officially declared smallpox-free in April 1977 by the International Commission for the Assessment of Smallpox Eradication.
This declaration followed a mandatory two-year period of intensive surveillance after the last known indigenous case of smallpox, which occurred on May 24, 1975.
The successful eradication was a result of the Intensified National Smallpox Eradication Programme, which involved systematic search-and-containment strategies and vaccination.
The global eradication of smallpox was officially declared by the World Health Assembly in May 1980, with India's achievement being a critical milestone.

Option B: In 1974, India, in collaboration with the WHO, launched the Intensified National Smallpox Eradication Programme. This was a period of high activity and case finding, not the year of eradication.
Option C: This was a year of active surveillance to ensure no new cases were emerging. The required two-year period without cases, which began after the last case in May 1975, was still ongoing.
Option D: This year marks the occurrence of the last indigenous case of smallpox in India (and the world). Certification could only happen after two full years of no subsequent cases.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to History of Smallpox Eradication in India to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Understanding the history of smallpox eradication highlights the power of coordinated public health initiatives, including robust surveillance, case finding (search and contain), and targeted vaccination (ring vaccination).
The principles learned from the smallpox campaign are fundamental to modern community health nursing and are applied in controlling other communicable diseases.
This achievement demonstrates that with political will, international cooperation, and dedicated healthcare workers, it is possible to eradicate a major infectious disease.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question based on a major historical public health milestone in India.
First, identify the key event the question is asking about: the year India was 'declared' or 'certified' as smallpox-free.
Recall the general process of disease eradication: there is a last case, followed by a period of intense surveillance (usually 2-3 years), and then official certification.
Evaluate the options based on this timeline. The last case in India was in 1975. Adding two years of surveillance points directly to 1977.
Eliminate the other options based on this logic: 1974 was too early (the program was just intensifying), and 1975 was the year of the last case, not certification.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: History of Smallpox Eradication in India
Stem keywords: India, smallpox-free, International Commission, Assessment of Smallpox Eradication
Lead-in keywords: In which year
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Comprehensive Textbook of Community Health NursingShyamala D part 1 (pp 26-389 of 389) p. 54-56

Practise the full NVS Staff Nurse - 2019

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