Dr. J. Donald Millar, 81, Dies; Led CDC Mission That Helped Eradicate Smallpox

> From 1880 to 1980, it killed a half-billion people worldwide.

And it caused 1/3 of all blindness. Eradicating smallpox is one of the greatest human achievements in protecting human life and health. I wish it was more celebrated and its significance more well-known. Smallpox Eradication Day should be a national holiday. Humans, by human hands, killed only HALF as many people as smallpox in the 20th century (that includes WWI, WWII, Russian purges, Great Leap Forward, etc.) Edward Jenner, who developed the smallpox vaccine, Donald Millar and the others who lead the eradication fight are truly among humanity's greatest heroes.

Next up to be eradicated: guinea worm. That program may be Jimmy Carter's greatest contribution to the world:

http://www.cartercenter.org/health/guinea_worm/index.html

I was certainly at the tail end of smallpox vaccinations in the US (1972). Had a big scar on my upper left arm well in to my 30s. Reading up, they were stopped in 1972 altogether, and from what my mom told me, it was optional at that point, but the doctor she saw was a fairly older and more conservative chap who had a "better safe than sorry" attitude, so vaccinated I became.

Interesting article about an little-known man who was a key figure in this great achievement.

http://boingboing.net/2015/07/30/the-best-person-who-ever-li...

IIRC smallpox was a major cause of the original inhabitants of the Americas being almost destroyed entirely.

How are we doing with other old diseases? Any chance we'll be rid of polio, malaria, etc?

Related (sic) talk by Larry, aptly named, Brilliant:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNhiHf84P9c