"This spellbinding book is Dr. Henderson's personal story of how he led the World Health Organization's campaign to eradicate smallpox-the only disease in history to have been deliberately eliminated. Some have called this feat "the greatest scientific and humanitarian achievement of the past century"--Inside cover.

The disease, the virus, and its history -- The world decides to eradicate smallpox -- Creating a global program -- Where to begin? A tale of two countries : Brazil and Indonesia -- Africa : a formidable and complicated challenge -- India and Nepal : a natural home of endemic smallpox -- Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh : the last stronghold of variola major -- Ethiopia and Somalia : the last countries with smallpox -- Smallpox : post-eradication -- Smallpox as a biological weapon -- Lessons and legacies of smallpox eradication.