Deadly disease eradicated in its natural form

SMALLPOX was eradicated in its natural form following a global vaccination programme.

The last case of endemic smallpox was in Somalia in 1977 and the last case in the world was a laboratory-acquired infection in 1978.

However, there are fears that smallpox still exists in laboratory conditions and could be used during a terrorist attack. Smallpox is caused by the variola virus and there are two forms variola major, which is the more deadly form, and