About the concept for eradication of diseases

The programs carried out previously for the eradication of infectious diseases have been described with the special attention in regard to the reasons of its failures and/or negative experience gained. So far the global program on smallpox eradication achieved the established goal, while two other, polio eradication initiative and dracontiasis eradication, are still going on rather long period of time. The program of elimination of measles and rubella, which according to the original plan, should be movedfor eradication in the future, is facing a lot ofproblems for the time being and therefore it is difficult to predict any future developments in this area. Nevertheless a number of initiatives and/or programs are very much keen nowadays to establish the goal of eradication or elimination without, according the authors opinion, serious and deep analysis of the burden of the targeted disease, its epidemiological and clinical peculiarities, feasibility for achievement of goal etc. The criterions for the disease selection for eradication/elimination are presented in the article. The hasty decision on such matter may lead to the failure of initiative, lack of the staff motivation, loss of the public health authority prestige and discredit the disease eradication concept as such.

World Health Organization, eradication, elimination, disease control, smallpox, malaria, poliomyelitis, dracontiasis, neglected tropical diseases