For most of human history, we have sought to treat and cure diseases. But only in recent decades did it become possible to ensure that a particular disease never threatens humanity again. The following video and guide details how the story of smallpox - the first and only disease to be permanently eliminated - shows how disease eradication can happen, and why it is so difficult to achieve. [5:47]

Concepts

smallpox

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Additional Tags

disease eradiction, learning from smallpox, ted ed, ted talk, disease, controlling spread of disease

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Classroom Considerations

• Knovation Readability Score: 5 (1 low difficulty, 5 high difficulty)