The eradication of small pox may have the set stage for the mpox outbreak
November 25, 2024
The eradication of smallpox marked a global health triumph, but it inadvertently set the stage for today’s mpox outbreak. NPR’s Gabrielle Emanuel highlights research showing that those vaccinated against smallpox before 1980 gained immunity to mpox, while those born after lack protection. Mpox cases have surged globally, exceeding 100,000 in recent years. Dr. Eugene Bangwen, an infectious disease expert, emphasizes the vital role of vaccination in controlling mpox, mirroring smallpox’s eradication strategy. The history of these diseases underscores the enduring importance of vaccination as a public health tool to curb outbreaks and protect future generations from infectious threats.
The eradication of smallpox stands as a monumental achievement in global health, yet it has had an unintended consequence: the rise of mpox. NPR’s Gabrielle Emanuel explores this connection through the work of Dr. Eugene Bangwen, an infectious disease expert at Belgium’s Institute of Tropical Medicine. Analyzing decades of data from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangwen discovered a critical pattern—almost all mpox patients were born after 1980, the year smallpox vaccinations ceased following its eradication.
This vaccination gap created a generation without immunity to mpox, which is closely related to smallpox. Smallpox vaccines, it turns out, provide cross-protection against mpox. The first recorded human mpox case in 1970 revealed this link, as patient zero—a young boy—was the only unvaccinated member of his family. The smallpox vaccination campaign had kept mpox cases low for decades, but its discontinuation laid the groundwork for today’s surge in mpox infections, which now exceed 100,000 globally.
Dr. Bangwen and other experts highlight the resurgence of mpox as a reminder of vaccination’s power. Just as vaccines were instrumental in eradicating smallpox, they hold the key to controlling mpox. Despite the challenges, targeted immunization campaigns could significantly curb its spread, as history has shown the critical role vaccines play in managing infectious diseases.
This research also underscores the interconnectedness of public health decisions. While the world celebrated the end of smallpox, the cessation of vaccinations left populations vulnerable to related threats. Dr. Bangwen’s findings reinforce the need for sustained vaccination strategies, not only to tackle current outbreaks but also to safeguard against future epidemics. By learning from this history, global health systems can better prepare for emerging diseases and the unintended consequences of progress.