The World Health Organization declared smallpox eradicated in 1980.
The WHO’s World Health Assembly formally certified global smallpox eradication on 8 May 1980. This followed a worldwide campaign that combined vaccination, disease surveillance, rapid investigation of cases, and containment vaccination around infected communities. The last naturally occurring case of variola major was recorded in Bangladesh in 1975, while the last naturally occurring case overall was recorded in Somalia in 1977.
Smallpox became the first human disease eliminated worldwide through deliberate public-health action. Unlike many infections, it had no known animal reservoir, and its distinctive symptoms made surveillance comparatively effective. Vaccination could also protect contacts after exposure, helping containment teams stop outbreaks.
Eradication does not mean every laboratory sample disappeared. Officially retained variola virus stocks remain in two high-security repositories, in the United States and Russia. Routine smallpox vaccination ended in many countries after eradication, although preparedness programs continue because of the virus’s historical significance and potential misuse.