Exclusive Article by Dennis Hung at EMRIndustry.com
As medical science has progressed, there have been numerous advances in the elimination of numerous diseases throughout the world. While there are still many horrific diseases that still run rampant, the good news is that there are just as many if not more that have been cured by modern technology. To gain a better understanding of just how diseases that were once thought to be unable to be cured have been virtually wiped out, take a look at some of the most famous ones below.
Smallpox
A disease that at one time was perhaps the most prevalent one worldwide, smallpox in today’s world has been virtually eliminated. Spread through human contact, smallpox was responsible for an estimated 300-500 million deaths throughout the 20th-century. A virus that attacked skin cells, it eventually led to victims suffering from bumps all over their bodies, along with high fevers that ultimately led to their demise. The first successful vaccine to be developed, a worldwide campaign to rid the world of the virus was started. As a result, it is today the only virus directly affecting humans that has been officially eradicated, according to the World Health Organization. With the last known confirmed case being found in Somalia in 1977, it is now considered a disease that is extinct.
Tetanus
A disease that has generally not been considered extremely dangerous, tetanus has in fact been one of the most deadly diseases for some time. However, due to better medical technology as well as people being more educated about its transmission, tetanus eventually began to show a steep decline in the number of reported cases. Though associated with rusty nails and other rusty surfaces, many people have been surprised to learn that it is not the actual rust itself that caused the illness, but rather the bacteria contained on the rusty surface. A disease characterized by painful muscle spasms in one’s jaw, technology eventually led to a vaccine that has resulted in it being largely eradicated. According to the Centers for Disease Control, from 2001-2008 there were less than 250 cases reported in the United States, most of which were caused by people failing to get their booster shots. Worldwide, places where the disease was once commonplace, such as Central Africa, have seen the disease virtually eliminated.
Polio
When people think of polio, their thoughts often turn to images of children in leg braces as well as former U.S, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who famously battled the disease while in office. Once considered the most dreaded disease of childhood around the world, in today’s world polio has been for all practical purposes eliminated. Considered one of the greatest triumphs of modern medicine, the eradication of polio has become a reality in most parts of the world. In the few instances where a case may have occurred, doctors use advanced testing from Enterprise Imaging Solutions to help them diagnose the condition and plan an appropriate course of treatment. Though an occasionally small epidemic may happen in third-world nations, the Centers for Disease Control confirms that polio is indeed viewed as a disease that is considered eradicated. From the early days of Jonas Salk to today’s modern medical technology, doctors and other public health officials continue to perfect the vaccine while also educating people about the disease.
As more advances continue to be made in modern medical technology, it’s expected that more and more diseases will join these as ones that have been eradicated from the planet. Whether it’s using advanced imaging to confirm an illness or using research findings to create or modify vaccines, there is little doubt that public health officials continue to make incredible strides in keeping people around the world healthier than ever. With the United States leading the way in the fight for a disease-free world, there are sure to be many more advances in medical technology that will lead to incredible breakthroughs.
