Health Programs

International Task Force for Disease Eradication Overview

Who are the members of the task force?

What determines whether a disease can be eradicated?

What is the difference between eradication and control?

How is the Carter Center involved?

International Task Force for Disease
Eradication - Disease Criteria

Scientific Feasibility

• Epidemiologic vulnerability (e.g., existence of nonhuman reservoir, ease of spread, natural cyclical decline in prevalence, naturally induced immunity, ease of diagnosis, and duration of any relapse potential)
• Effective, practical intervention available (e.g., vaccine or other primary preventive, curative treatment, and means of eliminating vector) Ideally, intervention should be effective, safe, inexpensive, long-lasting, and easily deployed.
• Demonstrated feasibility of elimination (e.g., documented elimination from island or other geographic unit)

Political Will/Popular Support

• Perceived burden of the disease (e.g., extent, deaths, other effects; true burden may not be perceived; the reverse of benefits expected to accrue from eradication; relevance to rich and poor countries)
• Expected cost of eradication (especially in relation to perceived burden from the disease)
• Synergy of eradication efforts with other interventions (e.g., potential for added benefits or savings or spin effects)
• Necessity for eradication rather than control

 

 

TOP