By 1952, smallpox was eliminated in North America and in Europe a year later, and in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson was ready to join the World Health Organization in an international effort to eradicate smallpox from the entire world. Cases were still occurring in South America, Asia, and Africa. At its peak, smallpox had a death rate of 30%a, and even those who survived the terrible disease were left with scars, some of which were severe. In 1959, the WHO embarked on a plan to rid the world of Smallpox, but their efforts suffered from lack of funding and commitment from countries. A vaccine had been widely accepted since early 1800s, but a shortage of the vaccine caused continuous outbreaks across South America, Africa, and Asia.
In his 1966 State of the Union Address, President Johnson urged Congress to pass the International Health Act (H.R. 12453).
"I will also propose the International Health Act of 1966 to strike at disease by a new effort to bring modern skills and knowledge to the uncared-for, those suffering in the world, and by trying to wipe out smallpox and malaria and control yellow fever over most of the world during this next decade; to help countries trying to control population growth, by increasing our research--and we will earmark funds to help their efforts."
Among purposes of the International Health Act were plans to make trained manpower available and "to overcome the obstacles which now exist to the recruitment, training, and participation of top-quality American health workers in these vitally important programs. One stated goal of the act was to establish worldwide leadership in the efforts to eradicate smallpox in 19 West African countries. According to text of the act, the international health programs would directly benefit the American people. For example, a recent case of smallpox in the District of Columbia was suspected of coming from Africa. As international travel increased, there was an increased chance of disease long banished in our country coming back from remote places in the world.
In 1980, the World Health Assembly declared smallpox eradicated and there have been no cases of naturally occurring smallpox since.
References
Presidency.ucsb.edu. 2022. Annual Message to the Congress on the State of the Union. | The American Presidency Project. [online] Available at: <https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/annual-message-the-congress-the-state-the-union-27> [Accessed 31 January 2022].
Cdc.gov. 2022. History of Smallpox | Smallpox | CDC. [online] Available at: <https://www.cdc.gov/smallpox/history/history.html> [Accessed 31 January 2022].
Govinfo.gov. 1966. H.R. 12453 A BILL TO AMEND THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT SO AS TO HE LP TRA IN AND OTHERW ISE PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL HEALTH PERSON NEL FOR HEALTH WORK ABROAD, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. [online] Available at: <https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-89hhrg59494/pdf/CHRG-89hhrg59494.pdf> [Accessed 31 January 2022].
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