Nature, nurture and my experience with smallpox eradication

Author

References

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18. A severe disease, with high mortality and serious after-effects
20. No animal reservoir of the virus
22. Very few subclinical cases
24. Cases were not infectious before the appearance of rash, which appeared after the onset of illness and fever
26. An acute, self-limited disease; recurrence of infectivity never occurred
28. Only one serotype
30. An effective, heat-stable vaccine was available and inexpensive
32. Country-wide elimination in Europe and the Americas showed that global eradication was possible
34. Few social or religious barriers to the recognition of cases
36. The costs of quarantine and vaccination of travellers provided a strong financial incentive for wealthy countries to contribute
38. The WHO Smallpox Eradication Unit had inspiring leaders and enlisted many devoted health workers