 &gt; From 1880 to 1980, it killed a half-billion people worldwide.<p>And it caused 1&#x2F;3 of all blindness.  Eradicating smallpox is one of the greatest human achievements in protecting human life and health.  I wish it was more celebrated and its significance more well-known.  Smallpox Eradication Day should be a national holiday.  Humans, by human hands, killed only HALF as many people as smallpox in the 20th century (that includes WWI, WWII, Russian purges, Great Leap Forward, etc.)  Edward Jenner, who developed the smallpox vaccine, Donald Millar and the others who lead the eradication fight are truly among humanity&#x27;s greatest heroes.