W.h.o. Ends Smallpox And Begins A.I.D.S. Battle (Press, 27 October 1987)

A significant milestone in public health has been reached as the World Health Organisation (WHO) prepares to close its Smallpox Eradication Unit, marking the apparent eradication of smallpox, a disease that killed millions globally. The last naturally occurring case was in 1977 when a hospital cook named Ali Maow Maalin contracted the disease; he is now 33 and still working in Somalia. Prior to Maalin's case, the last known incident was in 1978 when a woman in Britain succumbed to smallpox due to a laboratory accident. Health experts estimate that smallpox, which resulted in 10 to 15 million infections annually and about two million deaths each year as recently as 1987, has been completely eliminated. The WHO's eradication efforts began in earnest in 1967. This involved an aggressive vaccination campaign, bolstered by the realisation that the disease could only be eradicated through a globally coordinated effort. The campaign was completed in ten years, nine months, and 26 days as confirmed by Dr Zdenek Jezek, head of the Smallpox Eradication Unit, following a massive vaccination initiative in response to Maalin's infection. However, concerns lingered about the possibility of the virus persisting undetected in isolated communities, leading to the continued monitoring even after certification of eradication. Unlike the smallpox virus, which could not remain hidden in a carrier, the HIV virus is more insidious and spreads through specific behaviours, diminishing tasks related to surveillance. As the unit closes, the WHO is redirecting its focus towards combating Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a significantly more complex challenge. Dr Jonathan Mann, director of the WHO’s AIDS programme, expressed that the fight against AIDS, which is expected to put more strain on resources, requires an extensive global approach due to the estimated five to ten million people currently carrying the HIV virus that leads to AIDS. The WHO anticipates that between 500,000 and three million new AIDS cases could arise by 1991, despite education campaigns and preventative measures. The organisation is working to educate communities about AIDS risks, promoting practices such as using condoms—symbolised by their campaign slogan "Condom Power — Roll on Responsibility." While Dr Mann remains optimistic about controlling the disease through informed behaviour, skepticism remains in the public health community regarding the feasibility of changing deeply entrenched sexual practices worldwide. Nevertheless, the WHO remains committed to using lessons learned from the smallpox eradication campaign to tackle the AIDS epidemic and hopes to shift the balance of control from the disease back to public health authorities.

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