
Smallpox is the only human infectious disease we've eradicated. Why?
Get every episode summarized
Each time Tiny Matters publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
About this episode
On May 8, 1980, the World Health Organization declared that smallpox—a highly-deadly disease in humans—had been eradicated. Today it’s still the only one we’ve completely wiped out. So, how’d we do it? And why haven’t we done it for the many other diseases that plague us, like COVID-19? Links to the Tiny Show & Tell stories here and here. Episode transcripts at acs.org/tinymatters
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Get every episode summarized
Each time Tiny Matters publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Know when Dr. Eric Fenton turns up
Follow Dr. Eric Fenton and once a week we email you every new episode they appeared on — including guest spots the show notes never mention, because we read the transcript.
Follow Dr. Eric FentonFree. Pick your own day and time.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from Tiny Matters

How do you save a species?: Breakthroughs from cheetahs, red wolves, and 'spicy'...
Tiny Matters

[BONUS] Milking spiders and why this scientist’s grave is covered in gifts: Tiny...
Tiny Matters

Biofilms: The sticky, slimy communities behind some of medicine's toughest infec...
Tiny Matters

[BONUS] ‘Drinking Grandma,’ digital cadavers and debunking a grave robbing myth:...
Tiny Matters