Because of Mr. Carter's two-decade battle against Guinea worm disease, it is expected to be eradicated worldwide within the next five years.

Two years later, it was declared eradicated worldwide.

Smallpox, which was eradicated worldwide two decades ago, is highly contagious and kills roughly a third of its victims, making it a potentially fearsome biological weapon.

Smallpox has been eradicated worldwide, but some illicit vaccine stocks may still exist, making it possible that terrorists could use them in germ warfare.

But the vaccine will not be used to immunize Americans against smallpox, a disease that was essentially eradicated worldwide in 1977.

Smallpox was declared eradicated worldwide in 1980, so health officials are operating on the assumption that any new case would represent a terrorist attack.

Monkeypox is fatal in up to 10 percent of cases, much lower than the 30 percent figure for smallpox before it was eradicated worldwide in 1980.

Introduced goats have been successfully eradicated from 120 islands worldwide.

Smallpox was declared eradicated worldwide in 1980, and the United States stopped routine smallpox vaccinations in 1972.

Routine vaccinations against smallpox were discontinued in the United States in 1972, when the disease had been virtually eradicated worldwide.