Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Review Article
  • Published:

Virological evidence for the success of the smallpox eradication programme

Abstract

Smallpox has prevailed throughout the populated world during the last four centuries but the World Health Organization's eradication campaign has now apparently interrupted transmission of the disease in the human population. The risk of natural re-introduction of the disease is negligible.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Collier, L. H. J. Hyg. 53, 76–101 (1955).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Henderson, D. A. Int. J. Epidem. 5, no. 1 (1976).

  3. Bourke, A. T. C. & Dumbell, K. R. Bull. WHO 46, 621–623 (1972).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Shafa, E. WHO document WHO/SE/72.35 (1972).

  5. Dumbell, K. R. & Huq, F. WHO document WHO/SE/75.74 (1975).

  6. Arita, I. & Henderson, D. A. Bull. WHO 39, 277–283 (1968).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Kemp, G. E. et al. J. Wildl. Dis. 10, 279–293 (1974).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Arita, I. & Henderson, D. A. Bull. WHO 53, 347–353 (1976).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. von Magnus, P. et al. Acta path. microbiol. scand. 46, 156–176 (1959).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Ladnyi, I. D., Ziegler, P. & Kima, A. Bull. WHO 46, 593–597 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Marennikova, S. S. et al. Bull. WHO 46, 599–611 (1972).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Breman, J. G., Bernadou, J. & Nakano, J. H. Bull. WHO 55(5), 605–612 (1977).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Gispen, R., Brand-Saathof, B. & Hekker, A. C. Bull. WHO 53, 355–360 (1976).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Marennikova, S. S. et al. Intervirology (in the press).

  15. Marennikova, S. S. & Shelukhina, E. M. Nature, 276, 291–292 (1978).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Shelukhina, E. M. et al. J. Hyg. Epidem. Microbiol. Immun. 17, 266 266–278 (1973).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Wolff, H. L. & Croon, J. J. A. B. Bull. WHO 38, 492–493 (1968).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Huq, F. WHO document WHO/SE/77.93 (1977).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Arita, I. Virological evidence for the success of the smallpox eradication programme. Nature 279, 293–298 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/279293a0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/279293a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing