Ladnyi I D, Jezek Z, Gromyko A
J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol. 1983;27(1):1-12.
In 1967, when the intensified global eradication programme was launched, smallpox was still endemic in 35 countries with a total population of 1200 million and caused an estimated 10-15 million cases, resulting in 2 million deaths. Ten years and ten months later, on 26 October 1977 through intensified public health activities, the chain of smallpox transmission was finally broken in Merka, south Somalia; the World Health Organization missed its ten-year target line by ten months. In December 1979, the Global Commission concluded that the global eradication of smallpox had been achieved and the Organization formulated its policy for the post-eradication era. In May 1980, the 33rd World Health Assembly endorsed the Commission's conclusion and officially confirmed the international acceptance of smallpox eradication as the most outstanding achievement in international public health. This achievement has unmistakably demonstrated that the concept of disease eradication is correct and feasible. WHO encouraged countries to discontinue smallpox vaccination and/or the need for a smallpox vaccination certificate from international travellers. However, WHO is continuing its vigilance over the disease and promoting further research on orthopox viruses. Globally, US$ 313 million were spent on the eradication of smallpox from the world. However, conservative calculations indicate that in the post-eradication era, concrete economic returns resulting from the eradication of smallpox throughout the world, are estimated at US$ 1000 to 2000 million, annually. For the last five years of smallpox-free status, savings of about US$ 5000-10 000 million could be diverted for other health projects, which has had a major impact on international public health. However, there are other dividends similarly worthy as those of economic value. The most important of these are the hundreds of thousands of experienced and dedicated health workers who remain now in the countries as a solid base for implementing other important public health programmes.
1967年，强化全球根除计划启动时，天花在35个国家仍然流行，总人口达12亿，估计有1000 - 1500万病例，导致200万人死亡。十年零十个月后，1977年10月26日，通过强化公共卫生活动，天花传播链终于在索马里南部的梅尔卡被打破；世界卫生组织比其十年目标期限晚了十个月。1979年12月，全球委员会得出结论，全球已实现天花根除，该组织制定了根除后时代的政策。1980年5月，第33届世界卫生大会认可了委员会的结论，并正式确认国际上接受天花根除是国际公共卫生领域最杰出的成就。这一成就明确表明疾病根除的概念是正确且可行的。世卫组织鼓励各国停止天花疫苗接种和/或不再要求国际旅行者提供天花疫苗接种证书。然而，世卫组织仍在对该疾病保持警惕，并推动对正痘病毒的进一步研究。在全球范围内，为在世界根除天花花费了3.13亿美元。然而，保守估计表明，在根除后时代，全球根除天花带来的具体经济回报估计每年为10亿至20亿美元。在无天花状态的最后五年里，约50亿至100亿美元的节省资金可转用于其他卫生项目，这对国际公共卫生产生了重大影响。然而，还有其他同样具有价值的益处，其重要性不亚于经济价值。其中最重要的是数十万经验丰富且敬业的卫生工作者，他们如今留在各国，成为实施其他重要公共卫生项目的坚实基础。
