Question

Malaria was one of the disease targeted for eradication in the mid-20th century? Why do you think we succeeded in eradicating smallpox, while malaria eradication efforts failed?

Answer 1

We succeeded in eradicating smallpox, while malaria eradication efforts failed because of multiple reasons. Since in contrast to malaria in the case of smallpox, there was no animal reservoir, and an effective vaccine was available. Furthermore, infected individuals were easy to identify due to the physical manifestation of disease symptoms and quarantine.   Thus in contrast to malaria, smallpox was easy to identify, monitor and prevent. Further, the emergence of resistance to DDT and anti-malarial drugs led to the failures, in most endemic countries for eradicating malaria.