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International Commissions conducted rigorous certification procedures in countries that were endemic at the beginning of the Smallpox Eradication Programme in 1967, or had become endemic since then. For all countries except Iraq and Syria, where the Global Commission required additional information, certification occurred at the end of the meeting dates shown.

Detailed country procedures: Smallpox and Its Eradication, Chapters 24-26. International Commission members: Chapter 24, pp 1140-6.

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1978	Methodology for preparation of appropriate data for the 31 countries remaining to be certified free of smallpox	Smallpox unit, WHO	SME/78.6	PDF
1980	Places visited and persons examined in preparation for and during visits by International Comm for the Certification of Smallpox Eradication	Smallpox unit, WHO	SME/80.4	PDF

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South America — 12-25 Aug 1973

Indonesia — 15-25 Apr 1974

Western Africa — 23 Mar-15 Apr 1976

Afghanistan — 22-29 Nov 1976
Pakistan — 6-18 Dec 1976

Central Africa — 6-30 Jun 1977

India — 4-23 Apr 1977
Nepal — 4-13 Apr 1977
Bhutan — 28 Mar-1 Apr 1977; 22 Apr 1977

Burma — 21-30 Nov 1977

Bangladesh — 1-14 Dec 1977

Malawi, Mozambique, United Republic of Tanzania, and Zambia — 6-29 Mar 1978

Iraq — 5-15 Oct 1978
Syrian Arab Republic — 15-22 Oct 1978

Uganda — 11-27 Oct 1978

Sudan — 15-29 Nov 1978

Angola — 5-16 Feb 1979

Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland — 5-23 Mar 1979

Democratic Republic of Yemen — 3-11 Jun 1979

Yemen Arab Republic 2-10 Jun 1979

Djibouti — 9-18 Oct 1979

Ethiopia — Preliminary assessment 3-18 Apr 1979; Final assessment 1-19 Oct 1979

Kenya — 1-19 Oct 1979

Somalia — 1-21 Oct 1979

The international credibility of global eradication rested on the assurance that smallpox was absent from all countries. The Director-General of WHO convened a Consultation on Worldwide Certification of Smallpox Eradication. Participants (see Smallpox and It Eradication, Ch 24:1146-7) were 17 experts on epidemiology, virology, and public health administration from 15 countries. The consultation determined that 79 countries required certification by International Commission. Non-endemic countries where importations had occurred or were likely to occur were visited by WHO experts/consultants and/or submitted detailed country reports. These countries are listed below. For detailed country procedures, see Smallpox and Its Eradication, Chapters 26 and 27.

The Consultation recommended establishment of an International Commission for the Global Certification of Smallpox Eradication. The Global Commission included most members of the consultation, almost all of whom had served on International Commissions, as well as other appointees from International Commissions. The Global Commission met first in Dec 1978. At its final meeting in Dec 1979, it certified global smallpox eradication and issued its final report and recommendations for post-eradication activities.

Non-endemic countries not at high risk of importations submitted Declarations of Smallpox-Free Status.

Commission Reports

Arab Countries of the Gulf Area

Iran

Namibia (South-West Africa), Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe)

Lao People's Republic, Thailand, Vietnam

Madagascar, South Africa

Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia

China, Autonomous Region of Tibet (PROC)

Documents related to post-eradication recommendations of the Global Commission