- The ARC - California Edition -

Public Health Achievement
Control of Infectious Diseases

During the 20th century, we have witnessed a remarkable success in reduction of death, illness, and disability being caused by infectious diseases. These are diseases which are capable of being transmitted from one person to another via a microorganism.

Prior to the dawning of the 20th century, infectious diseases were very prevalent in the United States, and were a significant cause of death. In addition, long-term disability, including mental retardation, often resulted.

The key to the success of preventing infectious disease was the development, acceptance, and widespread use of a key preventive measure known as vaccinations. Although the first vaccine to prevent smallpox was developed in the year 1796, public acceptance of the use of the vaccine and its widespread use did not occur until this century.

Also contributing to the 20th century becoming a “prevention success” had been the development of additional vaccines during the later part of the 19th century. These included vaccines against rabies, typhoid, cholera, and plague. Before 1900, such vaccines were not widely used, certainly not widely enough used to fully control the transmission of these diseases within this country.

As the 20th century draws to a close, vaccines are now available against 26 diseases.

Eleven of these vaccines are strongly recommended to be universally used by all U.S. children.

One of the keys to preventing infectious disease has been the national effort to promote vaccine use among all children. This approach was initiated as part of the funding for the polio vaccination efforts in a 1955 federal appropriations measure, and resulted in establishing a broad-based system for the delivery of vaccine.

U.S. vaccination coverage is at record high levels. Since 1980, the coverage among children aged 5-6 years has exceeded 95% each school year for DPT; polio; and measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines.