Smallpox was officially declared eradicated by the WHO in the World?

AIIMS BBSR SNO - 2019

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: AIIMS BBSR SNO - 2019

Explanation

The World Health Assembly (WHA), the decision-making body of the WHO, officially declared the global eradication of smallpox in May 1980.
This declaration marked the successful culmination of the Intensified Smallpox Eradication Programme, which the WHO launched in 1967.
Smallpox is the first and, to date, the only human disease to have been completely eradicated through human efforts, primarily vaccination.

Option A: This year does not correspond to a major milestone in the final stages of smallpox eradication. The last case was in 1977 and the final declaration was in 1980.
Option B: This year is significant as it marks the last known naturally occurring case of smallpox, which was recorded in Somalia. However, the question asks for the year of the official declaration of eradication.
Option C: This year is incorrect and falls two years after the official declaration of eradication by the World Health Assembly.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain History of Smallpox Eradication as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
The eradication of smallpox is a landmark achievement in public health, demonstrating the power of global cooperation and vaccination.
Following eradication, routine smallpox vaccination was discontinued worldwide. This has led to a global population that is largely non-immune to orthopoxviruses, which is relevant to the emergence of diseases like Mpox.
What if? If a case of smallpox were to be confirmed today, it would be treated as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This would trigger an immediate global response, including contact tracing, quarantine, and targeted vaccination of contacts from strategic vaccine reserves maintained by the WHO and various countries.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question testing knowledge of a specific historical event in public health.
First, identify the core of the question: the year of the official declaration of smallpox eradication by the WHO.
Be careful to differentiate between related but distinct events. The year of the last known case (1977) is a common distractor for the year of the official declaration.
The term 'officially declared' points to the final announcement by the governing body, which for the WHO is the World Health Assembly.
Recall or deduce that a period of surveillance is required after the last case to confirm eradication before an official declaration can be made. This makes a later year more likely than the year of the last case.
Select the option corresponding to the WHA's declaration in 1980.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart A (pp 26-201 of 604) p. 144-146