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Smallpox Eradication

Donald Henderson led the fight to rid the world of smallpox starting in the 1960s. International scientists only agreed that he and his team had succeeded, on 9 December, 1979.

Smallpox was once one of the most feared diseases in the world - disfiguring and often deadly.

Donald Henderson is the American doctor who led the fight to rid the world of this terrible disease.

His campaign started in the 1960s, and international scientists only agreed that he and his team had succeeded on 9 December, 1979.

He tells Witness how they tackled virus - in the laboratory, and on the ground.

Image: Smallpox cell, Credit: Getty Images

Available now

10 minutes

Last on

Thu 9 Dec 2010 11:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Thu 9 Dec 2010 05:50GMT
  • Thu 9 Dec 2010 08:50GMT
  • Thu 9 Dec 2010 11:50GMT

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