Elena K. answered • 06/07/19
Clinical training, PhD, professor, well published author (70+ papers)
The World Health Organization defines eradication as "the complete and permanent worldwide reduction to zero new cases of an infectious disease through deliberate efforts; no further control measures are required.
Example: The World Health Organization (WHO) reports smallpox as the eradicated disease since 1979.
This term is often confused with elimination.
The World Health Organization defines elimination as "reduction to zero (or a very low defined target rate) of new cases of an infectious disease in a defined geographical area as a result of deliberate efforts."
Example: Measles, rubella, mumps, diphtheria and polio are examples of eliminated disease in the U.S., largely due to the introduction of vaccination programs in the 1970s.
