On this day in 1979, humanity did something extraordinary. The World Health Organization officially certified that smallpox, a disease that had haunted us for over 3,000 years, was eradicated. Completely wiped out. Not “in remission,” not “mostly gone.” No cases. Anywhere. Forever. It remains one of only two diseases ever eradicated by human effort, the other being rinderpest, a cattle disease, in 2011.
This wasn’t just a win for medicine—it was a win for humanity. For millennia, smallpox was one of the deadliest and most feared diseases on the planet. It killed about 30% of those infected, and survivors were often left blind or scarred. Its impact on human history was profound, shaping wars, colonization, and entire societies. Yet, on December 9, 1979, the world came together to declare: enough.
A Disease That Changed the World
Smallpox was more than just a disease—it was a devastating force of nature. It swept through ancient civilizations, leaving a trail of destruction. It decimated Indigenous populations in the Americas after being introduced by European colonizers. By the 20th century, it was still claiming millions of lives every year.
But smallpox also led to one of medicine’s greatest breakthroughs: vaccines. In 1796, Edward Jenner observed that milkmaids who contracted cowpox—a milder disease—didn’t catch smallpox. He took a wild leap of logic (and questionable ethics by modern standards) and injected people with cowpox. Miraculously, it worked. The smallpox vaccine was born, and humanity finally had a weapon to fight back.
Fast-forward to 1967. The World Health Organization launched an audacious plan to eradicate smallpox globally. It was ambitious, expensive, and, at times, downright dangerous. But it worked. Through a combination of targeted vaccination campaigns, rapid containment strategies, and global cooperation, smallpox was eradicated in just over a decade.
How They Did It
Smallpox’s eradication wasn’t just a scientific marvel—it was a logistical triumph.
- Vaccination: The vaccine itself was a game-changer—cheap, portable, and effective. Health workers carried it across jungles, deserts, and war zones to reach even the most remote communities. They vaccinated millions of people, often under extreme conditions.
- Surveillance and Containment: The WHO used “ring vaccination,” a strategy where health workers vaccinated everyone around a reported case to stop the disease from spreading further. Think of it as a public health version of cutting off a wildfire’s fuel supply.
- Global Coordination: This was a true international effort. Countries set aside political differences and worked together, sharing resources and expertise to fight a common enemy. It was humanity at its best.
By 1977, the last natural case of smallpox was recorded in Somalia. Two years later, on this very day in 1979, smallpox was declared eradicated. It was the first time in history that humans had defeated a disease entirely.
RFK Jr.: The Wild Card in Public Health
Now, let’s fast-forward to December 2024. Vaccines, which were once hailed as one of the greatest achievements of modern medicine, have become a flashpoint for controversy. And in January 2025, the United States will have a new Director of Health and Human Services: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a man who has spent years questioning the safety of vaccines.
Kennedy’s views on vaccines are, let’s say, unorthodox. He has argued that vaccines cause a range of health issues, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Now, he’ll be in charge of the nation’s public health policies. Imagine putting a Flat Earther in charge of NASA—it’s kind of like that.
But Kennedy’s ideas go beyond vaccines. He’s floated theories about everything from 5G radiation to the benefits of detoxifying your body with juice cleanses. So, what will public health look like under his leadership? Will he suggest replacing booster shots with booster smoothies? Will “herd immunity” be rebranded as “group manifesting”?
What’s Next for Disease Eradication?
Despite the chaos, the question of eradicating other diseases remains. Smallpox proved that eradication is possible. Polio is on the brink of being the next disease wiped out, and diseases like measles could follow—if vaccination efforts are sustained.
But what about diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, or even HIV? Advances in medicine, from gene editing to targeted therapies, have opened the door to new possibilities. The tools are there. What’s missing is the political will—and, increasingly, public trust.
RFK Jr.’s tenure at HHS could make or break these efforts. If public trust in vaccines and science continues to erode, the dream of eradicating diseases might slip away. But if we double down on the lessons of smallpox—global cooperation, trust in science, and unwavering determination—we could achieve breakthroughs that once seemed impossible.
A Choice for Humanity
On December 9, 1979, the eradication of smallpox proved what humanity can accomplish when we come together to fight a common enemy. It was a turning point, a moment when science triumphed over suffering. As we head into 2025, the question isn’t whether we can do it again—the question is whether we’ll choose to.
This isn’t just a question for scientists or politicians—it’s a question for all of us. Do we want to be the generation that eradicates the next smallpox? Or the generation that lets conspiracy theories and bad science hold us back? The choice is ours.
