The World Heath Organization announced that “smallpox has been eradicated from the world”
On May 8, 1980, members of the World Heath Organization (WHO) in Geneva announced that “smallpox had been…
McGill University researcher Dr. Kelvin Ogilvie developed Ganciclovir to treat or prevent cytomegalovirus infections
In 1980, McGill University researcher Dr. Kelvin Kenneth Ogilvie developed Ganciclovir to treat or prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections….
The last cases of wild type 1 poliovirus occurred in the U.S.
On Jul. 27, 1979, the last cases of wild type 1 poliovirus occurred in the U.S. among unvaccinated…
The RA 27/3 (human diploid fibroblast) strain of rubella vaccine (Meruvax II by Merck) was licensed; all other strains discontinued
In 1979, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed the RA 27/3 (human diploid fibroblast) strain of…
The last wild case of polio was recorded in the U.S.
In 1979, the last wild case of polio was recorded in the U.S. However, in 1993, the virus…
Yellow fever vaccine (YF-Vax by Connaught) was licensed in the U.S.
On Jan. 3, 1978, the Yellow fever vaccine (YF-Vax by Connaught) was licensed in the U.S. The Yellow…
The CDC held its first international conference on Legionnaires’ disease
In 1978, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) held its first international conference on Legionnaires’…
Biology | CDC | Diagnostics | Infectious Disease | Life Science History | NIH | Plague | Therapeutics | Vaccine
The CDC opened an expanded maximum containment lab (hot lab) for highly dangerous viruses
In 1978, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) completed construction of a new hot lab…
The first pneumococcal vaccine was licensed
On Nov. 21, 1977, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed the first pneumococcal vaccine containing 14…
The last naturally occurring case of smallpox in the world was diagnosed in Somalia
On Oct. 30, 1977, Ali Maow Maalin, a hospital cook in Merca, Somalia, was diagnosed with smallpox by…
Biotechnology | CDC | Infectious Disease | Neurology | USDA | Veterinary
chronic wasting disease first observed in a captive deer in Colorado
In 1967, chronic wasting disease (CWD) was first observed in a captive deer in Colorado where it was…
Biotechnology | Diagnostics | HIV | Infectious Disease | Life Science History | Therapeutics | Vaccine | Women's Health
PATH was founded with seed money from the Ford Foundation
On May 12, 1977, the Program for the Introduction and Adaptation of Contraceptive Technology (PIACT) was founded by…
CDC | Infectious Disease | Life Science History | Measles | NIH | U.S. Congress | Vaccine
U.S. Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare (HHS) announced nationwide Childhood Immunization Initiative
On Apr. 6, 1977, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (now Department of Health and Human Services)…
Biology | Infectious Disease | Life Science History | Measles | NIH | Polio | Therapeutics
The National Childhood Immunization Initiative was launched
In 1977, Joseph A. Califano, Jr., Secretary of the Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare (later Health and…
The CDC isolated Legionella pneumophila, which caused Legionnaires’ disease in Philadelphia
In 1977, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) isolated Legionella pneumophila, which caused a deadly…
Ebola virus was first identified in Sudan and Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo)
On Oct. 13, 1976, the Ebola virus was first identified in Sudan and Zaire (now Democratic Republic of…
Issaquah Group for Health and Environmental Research (Center for Infectious Disease Research) was founded
On Mar. 26, 1976, the Issaquah Group for Health and Environmental Research (Center for Infectious Disease Research) was…
The age for routine vaccination with MMR vaccine was changed from 12 months to 15 months
In 1976, because of evidence of increased vaccine efficacy at older ages, the recommended age for vaccination was…
CDC disease detectives investigated outbreaks of hemorrhagic fever in Zaire and Sudan, later named Ebola
In 1976, patients began presenting at a rural hospital in northwest Democratic Republic of Congo (then referred to…
Baruch Samuel Blumberg was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine
In 1976, Baruch Samuel Blumberg from the Institute for Cancer Research in Philadelphia was awarded the Nobel Prize…
Lyme Disease was identified and named
In 1975, Lyme Disease was identified and named at Yale University. The spirochete that causes Lyme disease was…
The CDC established the vessel sanitation program alongside the cruise ship industry
In 1975, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established the vessel sanitation program alongside the…
Biology | Infectious Disease | Life Science History | Polio | Vaccine | WHO
The World Health Assembly created the Expanded Programme on Immunization to bring vaccines to the world’s children
In 1975, The World Health Assembly passed a resolution to create the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) to…
The first monovalent (group C) meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (Merck) was licensed
On Apr. 2, 1974, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed the first monovalent (group C) meningococcal…
Measles and mumps virus vaccine, live (M-M-R II) was licensed to Merck
On Apr. 22, 1971, the measles, mumps, and rubella virus (M-M-R II) vaccine Live developed by Maurice Hilleman was…
Satoshi Ōmura Discovered the pioneering Wonder Drug drug ivermectin
In 1973, Satoshi Ōmura discovered the extraordinary microorganism that produces the avermectins (from which ivermectin is derived) that…
Agriculture | Biotechnology | Environmental | Infectious Disease | Life Science History | Polio | Vaccine
Molecular biologist Robert Pollack published “Biohazards in Biological Research”
In 1973, the publication “Biohazards in Biological Research,” was edited by S. Hellman, M. Oxman, and R. Pollack. …
The U.S., the Soviet Union and 70 other nations signed an agreement banning biological warfare
On Apr. 10, 1972, the United States, the Soviet Union and 70 other nations signed an agreement that…
The CDC recommended discontinuation of routine immunization and vaccination requirements for smallpoxﾠ in the US
In 1971, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended discontinuation of routine immunization and vaccination…
The CDC discovers that hepatitis B is sexually transmitted
In 1971, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discovered that hepatitis B is sexually transmitted….