[Global program of smallpox eradication. 1. Smallpox in the world before acceptance of the program of its eradication by the World Health Organization].

Despite a considerable success in control smallpox in a number of countries reached as a result of vaccination the problem of eradication of this infection could not be solved without uniting the efforts of all the countries in the world. Guided by humanity principles the delegation of the USSR suggested in 1958 a program of smallpox eradication in the whole world. World smallpox morbidity is analyzed in this work.