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Reference ID U271BZB

Description Following the visit of a WHO Consultant, Pakistan in 1960 undertook a pilot project for the eradication of smallpox in Commilla and Faridpur (then the province of East Pakistan, now Bangladesh), the two worst affected districts during the 1957-58 great epidemic with a combined population of 7,6 million. In Commilla there were 13,594 cases and 9,750 deaths and in Faridpur 17,125 cases and 13,184 deaths. Between January and August 1961 the entire population of the two districts was vaccinated. Freeze-dried vaccine was used. The results were very encouraging. There was no case of smallpox in these two districts until the end of 1962. A small outbreak occurred in 1963 involving 444 cases in Commilla and 34 cases in Faridpur. By 1964 the disease had almost disappeared. Based on the experience gained in the pilot project, a comprehensive plan of smallpox eradication was made. The scheme provided complete protection of the total population of about 50 million to be achieved in two phases during the period from 1961 to 1972. During the first phase of the programme (by September 1963), over 40 million people were protected. Until 1958 the smallpox vaccine production laboratory in Dhaka was producing only wet vaccine but it switched over completely to freeze-dried vaccine. Calf was used in the production of the lymph. The laboratory produced 40 million doses per year which was quite enough to meet the requirements of the campaign. Samples of the vaccine were regularly tested. Some batches were sent to WHO for testing.

Positive reactions from two vaccinations leave visible scars on the arm of a little boy in Bangladesh. They are his guarantee against a disease which might otherwise have killed or blinked him.

Asset date 01/01/1965

Country, area, WHO office Bangladesh

WHO Region SEARO

Consent No

File size 1.79 MB

Visibility class:

Public

Administered By HQ Records and Archives

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