In 1949, the last reported case of smallpox in the U.S. occurred. Although it took another two decades before the disease was eradicated globally in 1977, the risk for importation of disease into the U.S. had greatly decreased before that time. As a result, the U.S. discontinued routine smallpox vaccinations for the general population in 1971, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended against routine vaccination of health-care workers in 1976.