Select the conditions below that are necessary for potential eradication of disease. Select all that apply: Disease transmission must be zoonotic in nature. The disease must be found in human reservoirs only. Prevention should not be costly. Whole, live-cell vaccines must be used. The infectious disease must be preventable. The infectious disease must be curable.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
- The disease must be found in human reservoirs only.
- The infectious disease must be preventable.
Explanation:
For a disease to be a candidate for eradication, several specific conditions must be met. The two most critical requirements from the list are that the disease must have only human reservoirs and that it must be preventable.
First, the requirement for a human-only reservoir is essential. Eradication involves breaking the chain of transmission permanently. If a pathogen can survive and replicate in animal populations (a zoonotic disease) or in the environment, it becomes nearly impossible to eliminate. Even if the disease is wiped out in humans, it can be reintroduced from the non-human reservoir at any time. The successful eradication of smallpox was largely possible because the variola virus infects only humans, meaning there was no animal population to sustain it once human to human transmission was stopped.
Second, the disease must be preventable. Eradication campaigns rely on stopping the spread of the pathogen to new, susceptible individuals. This is typically accomplished with a highly effective intervention, such as a vaccine that provides long-lasting immunity. Without a reliable method to prevent new infections, the disease would continue to circulate, making eradication unachievable.
The other options are incorrect. A zoonotic nature is a major barrier to eradication, not a necessary condition. While a cure is helpful for managing cases, it is not essential for eradication; smallpox was eradicated through prevention without a specific cure. The type of vaccine, such as a whole, live-cell vaccine, is not a requirement; what matters is that the preventive tool is effective. Finally, while low cost greatly facilitates a global campaign, it is a practical consideration rather than a fundamental biological necessity for eradication.thumb_upthumb_down
