Veterinary Epidemiology and Zoonosis

ERADICATION

• Defined as a bolder directed action in which the object is the extinction of a species of infectious microorganism.
• The term 'eradication' can be expressed in four senses
  • The extinction of an infectious agent. Example, human smallpox
  • Reduction of infectious disease prevalence in a specified area to a level at which transmission does not occur.
  • The reduction of infectious disease prevalence to a level at which the disease ceases to be a major health problem, although some transmission may still take place
  • Regional extinction of an infectious organism (in Veterinary medicine). Example, eradication of FMD in U.K.
• Eradication involves a time-limited campaign.