Erradicação

Erradicação refers to the complete and permanent elimination of a disease-causing agent from a particular geographic area or globally. It is distinct from control, which aims to reduce the incidence of a disease to a locally acceptable level. Eradication requires sustained, coordinated efforts that interrupt the transmission cycle of the pathogen. Key elements for successful eradication include the availability of effective interventions such as vaccines or treatments, a pathogen with specific characteristics that make it vulnerable to elimination (e.g., no animal reservoir, limited environmental persistence), and strong political will and public health infrastructure.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared smallpox eradicated globally in 1980, a landmark achievement. Currently, efforts are underway to eradicate polio, which has seen dramatic reductions in incidence. Other diseases, like measles and rubella, are targets for regional or global elimination. Challenges to eradication include funding limitations, vaccine hesitancy, political instability, and the emergence of new strains or resistant pathogens. The cost-effectiveness of eradication programs is often debated, but successful campaigns can lead to significant long-term savings in healthcare costs and improved human well-being.