# Smallpox Eradication **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [November 28, 2001, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-eradication/95648 "2001-11-28T03:55:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Don\_Entz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/71e660/32.png) [@Don\_Entz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Entz)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-eradication/95648/1 "2001-11-28T03:55:16Z")
Smallpox was officially declaerd eradicated in October 1979, NOT in 1980 like your column stated. ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-eradication/95648/2 "2001-11-28T06:31:47Z")
The last wild case of Smallpox was reported in Somalia in 1977. And at least the little rounding error (re. WHO certified eradication) got you to register here, Don. Welcome to the SDMB. Jill ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-eradication/95648/3 "2001-11-28T16:42:58Z")
Welcome to the SDMB, and thank you for posting your comment. Please include a link to Cecil’s column if it’s on the straight dope web site. To include a link, it can be as simple as including the web page location in your post (make sure there is a space **before** and **after** the text of the URL). Cecil has three online columns discussing smallpox: [Did whites ever give Native Americans blankets infected with smallpox? (24-Oct-1997)](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_066.html) The column ( **including** Slug Signorino’s illustration) can also be found on pages 66-68 of Cecil Adams’ book «[_Triumph of the Straight Dope_](http://www.straightdope.com/otheroutlets/books.html)». [Why did so many Native Americans die of European diseases but not vice versa? (29-Jul-1994)](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_100.html) The column ( **including** Slug Signorino’s illustration) can also be found on pages 100-102 of Cecil Adams’ book «[_The Straight Dope Tells All_](http://www.straightdope.com/otheroutlets/books.html)». [How long does a smallpox vaccination protect you? (09-Nov-2001)](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/011109.html) (this last column is the one containing the fact mentioned in the OP) * * * moderator, «[**Comments on Cecil’s Columns**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/forumdisplay.php?forumid=1)» ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-eradication/95648/4 "2001-11-28T16:59:38Z")
P.S. Don Entz, What the column says is not _wrong_. Cecil says: > [@](#): > > The World Health Organization declared–somewhat precipitously, you may think–that smallpox had been eradicated from the globe in 1980. The [World Health Organization](http://www.who.int/emc/diseases/smallpox/factsheet.html#Historical) says: > [@](#): > > The global eradication of smallpox was certified, based on intense verification activities in countries, by a commission of eminent scientists in December 1979 and subsequently endorsed by the World Health Assembly in 1980. ---
**Author:** ![Cecil\_Adams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cecil\_Adams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cecil_Adams)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-eradication/95648/5 "2001-11-28T20:12:10Z")
Let this be a lesson to you. If you find an apparent anomaly in a column, don’t say, “Cecil screwed up!” but rather, “What have I failed to understand?” ---
**Author:** ![2nd\_Law](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/f475e1/32.png) [@2nd\_Law](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2nd_Law)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-eradication/95648/6 "2001-11-28T20:24:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cecil Adams \* > Let this be a lesson to you. If you find an apparent anomaly in a column, don’t say, “Cecil screwed up!” but rather, “What have I failed to understand?” These are words I live by. I mean, it’s not like Uncle Cecil is Vos Savant.