Abstract
Eradicating Infectious Disease: Can We and Should We?
Highlights
As the only two infections eradicated to date are viral, it is tempting to assume that viruses are the ideal candidates for eradication
By 2006, eradication efforts had reduced the worldwide incidence of poliomyelitis infection by 99% through the oral polio vaccine (OPV; Arita et al, 2006)
A problem with live vaccines such as the OPV is that the strain can potentially revert back to a pathogenic form and this has been encountered with the OPV
Summary
As the only two infections eradicated to date are viral, it is tempting to assume that viruses are the ideal candidates for eradication. Viruses are obligate intracellular pathogens and if denied access to host cells through immunization by vaccination, transmission is prevented, and the virus will be unable to replicate, leading to its extinction. Smallpox was a sensible target for eradication as the virus had no animal reservoir or latent phase, an effective single dose vaccine existed and infection produced obvious clinical signs, allowing effective surveillance for infection (Henderson, 1998).
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