Western Pacific Region

Summary & Regional Information

For more information, see:
Smallpox and Its Eradication (Fenner et al, WHO, 1988)

Chapter 26, pp 1224-5 (Certification in south-eastern Asia)
Chapter 27, pp 1248-61 (Certification in China)

Summary of Smallpox Status

Country	Last endemic case	Importations during SEP	Certification	Method	Document	URL
Australia	Never endemic	None		Official statement of smallpox-free status
China, People's Rep	1961	None	Dec 1969	Visit and detailed country report	WHO/SE/79.152	WHO: 10665/68285
Cambodia (Kampuchea)¹	1959	None	Dec 1979	Detailed report prepared by WHO Western Pacific Regional Office	WHO/SE/79.152 pp 59-60	WHO: 10665/68285
Lao People's Dem Rep (Laos)²	1953	None	7 Dec 1978	Visit and detailed country report	WHO/SE/78.132 pp 7,21	WHO: 10665/68264
Philippines	1931, 1949	None		Official statement of smallpox-free status
Tibet (Xizang) Autonomous Region	1961	None	1979	Visit and expert report	WHO/SE/79.151	WHO: 10665/68284
Vietnam			7 Dec 1978	Visit and detailed country report	WHO/SE/78.132 pp 7,21	WHO: 10665/68264

Cambodia was in political turmoil throughout most of the SEP and had name changes recognized by some but not all nations and international bodies. Generally, it was referred to as the Khmer Republic (1970-75) and Kampuchea (1975-89) before reverting to 'Cambodia' in 1989.
Laos was renamed the Lao People's Democratic Republic in 1975.

Australia

Endemic smallpox never became established in Australia, New Zealand, or other Pacific islands. For more information, see:

Smallpox and Its Eradication (Fenner et al, WHO, 1988), Chapters 5 (pp 240-2) & & 8 (pp 361-2)
The History of Small-pox in Australia, 1788-1908 (Cumpston JHL, Melbourne: Govt Printer, Australia, 1914. Quarantine Service Pub No 3)
The History of Small-pox in Australia, 1909-1923 (Cumpston JHL, McCallum F, Melbourne: Govt Printer, Australia, 1925. Dept of Health Service Pub No 29)

Historical Smallpox & Its Control

* Cited in Smallpox and its Eradication, Fenner et al, WHO 1988

Year	Title	Authors	Journal	URL
*1914	The history of small-pox in Australia, 1788-1908	Cumpston JHL	Melbourne, Govt Printer, Commonwealth of Australia	See also: Book notices. JAMA 1915 44(21): 1784-85. DOI: 10.1001/jama.1915.02570470068033
2009	Smallpox and cowpox under the Southern Cross: the smallpox epidemic of 1789 and the advent of vaccination in colonial Australia	Bennett MJ	Bull Hist Med 2009 83(1):37-62	DOI: 10.1353/bhm.0.0167
*1985	Macassans and aboriginal smallpox: the "1789" and "1829" epidemics	Butlin NG	Hist Stud 1985 21:315-35	DOI: 10.1080/10314618508595710
*1983	Smallpox in aboriginal Australia, 1829-31	Campbell J	Hist Stud 1983 20(81):536-56	DOI: 10.1080/10314618308682899
*1985	Smallpox in aboriginal Australia: the early 1830s	Campbell J	Hist Stud 1985 21:336-58	DOI: 10.1080/10314618508595711
2014	Smallpox vaccination, colonial Sydney and serendipity	Weston KM, Gallagher WC, Branley JM	Med J Aust 2014 200(5):295-7	DOI: 10.5694/mja13.11021
1967	Variola or varicella? [The "smallpox incident" at Hamilton, 1882]	Thompson BE	Med J Aust 1967 23 2(13): 615-7	DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1967.tb74093.x
*1925	The history of small-pox in Australia, 1909-1923	Cumpston JHL, McCallum F	Melbourne, Govt Printer, Commonwealth of Australia	See also: Advance review. Public Health Rep 1925 40(33): 1686-1692. JSTOR: 4577626
1914	Smallpox in New South Wales		Can Med Assoc J 1914 4(8): 721-4	PMC: PMC406711
1915	The recent epidemic of small-pox in New South Wales: its diagnosis and prevention	Armstrong WG	Proc R Soc Med 1915 8(Sect Epidemiol State Med): 1-18	PMC: PMC2004206
1915	The nature of the recent small-pox epidemic in Australia: microbiological findings and animal inoculations	Cleland JB, Ferguson EW	Proc R Soc Med 1915 8(Sect Epidemiol State Med): 19-40	PMC: PMC2004207
1996	Smallpox at Kurri Kurri. 1915		Med J Aust 1996 164(2): 93	DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1996.tb101358.x

Smallpox in the 20th Century

* Cited in Smallpox and its Eradication, Fenner et al, WHO 1988
WHO documents are in italics

Year	Title	Authors	Source	URL
*1942	Application of Hirst's phenomenon to the titration of vaccinia virus and vaccinia immune serum	Nagler FPO	Med J Aust 1942 1(10): 281-3	DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1942.tb95038.x
*1944	The use of the chorioallantois of the developing chick embryo in the diagnosis of smallpox	North EA, Broben JA, Mengoni AH	Med J Aust 1944 1(20):437-8	DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1944.tb51954.x
1952	Kaposi's varicelliform eruption due to vaccinia virus	Slonim MH	Med J Aust 1952 1(13): 434-5	DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1952.tb83818.x
1963	Ocular vaccinia: case report and review of treatment	Goldman A	Med J Aust 1963 2(22): 921-2	DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1963.tb23616.x
1964	Smallpox and vaccination	Murray HM	Med J Aust 1964 2(3): 106-9	DOI:
1967	Editorial: Smallpox eradication		Med J Aust 1967 1(16): 825-6	DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1967.tb21652.x
1968	A case of foetal vaccinia	Aitkens GH, Bowman R, Hansman D	Med J Aust 1968 2(4): 173-4	DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1968.tb29384.x
1968	Periostitis following smallpox vaccination	Bennett NM, Yung AP, Lehmann NI	Med J Aust 1968 1(24): 1052-3	DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1968.tb29124.x
1968	A smallpox vaccination survey in New South Wales	Freedman ML	Med J Aust 1968 1(3):83-7	DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1968.tb27491.x
1969	Vaccinia gangrenosa with circulating vaccinial antibodies and benign indolent vaccinal ulceration: case reports and discussion	Boughton CR, Hawkes RA, Tait-Smith A	Med J Aust 1969 1(4): 143-9	DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1969.tb92075.x
1969	A survey of complications to smallpox vaccination	Hallett P	Med J Aust 1969 1(18): 898-901	DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1969.tb49779.x
1969	Editorial: Smallpox vaccination and quarantine: A new exemption policy		Med J Aust 1969 2(12): 579-80	DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1969.tb107283.x
1971	Editorial: Smallpox vaccination		Med J Aust 1971 2(9): 456	DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1971.tb50669.x
1974	Editorial: Smallpox vaccination and eczema		Med J Aust 1974 2(2): 33-4	DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1974.tb93589.x
1974	Editorial: Relaxation of requirements on smallpox vaccination		Med J Aust 1974 2(24): 862	DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1974.tb93727.x
1976	Smallpox vaccination and eczema	Scientific Advisory Comm of the Australasian Coll of Dermatology	Med J Aust 1976 2(16): 620-1	DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1976.tb115283.x
1977	Adverse reactions after smallpox vaccination	Feery BJ	Med J Aust 1977 2(6):180-3	DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1977.tb114544.x
1979	WER. Adverse reactions to smallpox vaccination, Sep 7 1979 Australia, USA: Case reports. Editorial note	WHO	Wkly Epidemol Rec 1979 Sep 7 54(36):276-7	WHO: 10665/222707

China

Historical Smallpox & Its Control

* Cited in Smallpox and its Eradication, Fenner et al, WHO 1988
WHO documents are in italics

Year	Title	Authors	Source	URL
1966	[Paleographic and paleopathologic data on the problem of smallpox in ancient Egypt and China] Hungarian	Regoly-Merei G	Orv Hetil 1966 107(15):702-7
1972	[Smallpox prevention during the Ming dynasty] Hebrew	Hes HS, Rutkovska C	Korot 1972 6(1-2):96-9
1980	Smallpox in Mongolia during the Ming and Ching dynasties	Serruys H	Zentralasiat Stud 1980 14:41-63
1889	Inoculation and vaccination for small-pox amongst the Chinese	Cantlie J	Br Med J 1889 2(1501):761-2	DOI: 10.1136/bmj.2.1501.761 PMC: PMC2155649
2002	Disease and its impact on politics, diplomacy, and the military: the case of smallpox and the Manchus (1613-1795)	Chang CF	J Hist Med Allied Sci 2002 57(2):177-97	DOI: 10.1093/jhmas/57.2.177
*1884	Report on the health of Wenchow for the half-year ended 31 March 1884	Macgowan DJ	China, imperial maritime customs medical reports 1884 27:9-18

Smallpox in the 20th Century

* Cited in Smallpox and its Eradication, Fenner et al, WHO 1988
WHO documents are in italics

Year	Title	Authors	Source	URL
*1915	[Periodic occurrence of smallpox in Shanghai] German	Dold H	Z Hyg Infektionskr 1915 80:467-80
*1921	Incidence of vaccination and small pox in north China	Korns JM	Chin Med J 1921 35:561-3
1944	Smallpox in Kweilin, Kwangsi, 1940-1941. An epidemiological and clinical study	Su TL	Ind Med Gaz 1944 79(7): 332-7	PMC: PMC5218675
1947	Preparation of simple and dried smallpox vaccine in gum acacia; a preliminary report	Wei H	Chin Med J 1947 65(5-6):163-6
1981	The eradication of smallpox in Shanghai, China, October 1950-July 1951	Xu H, Jiang Y	Bull WHO 1981 59(6):913-7	PMC: PMC2396138
1951	An outbreak of smallpox in Wuhu; analysis of 108 cases	Tan AY	Chin Med J 1951 69(1-2):69-75
1962	A study on the effect of simultaneous smallpox vaccination on the result of PPD test	Lee TY, Hsu TC	Tsa Chih Gaoxiong Yi Xue Yuan Tong Xue Hui 1962 61: 805-10
1988	Outbreaks of smallpox due to variolation in China, 1962-1965 Introduction by DA Henderson	Jiang Y, Ma J, Xiahou G	Am J Epidemiol 1988 128(1): 39-45	DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a114956
	WHO Global Commission
1979	Special report on smallpox and its eradication in Yunnan Province, China	Dept of Health, Yunnan Province	SME/79.10	WHO: 10665/68312
1979	Report on a visit to the People's Republic of China to consider matters relating to the certification of smallpox eradication, 14-30 July 1979	Fenner F, Breman JG	SME/79.11	WHO: 10665/68313
1979	Smallpox eradication in China. Report submitted to WHO, 31 Jul 1979	Govt of People's Rep of China	WHO/SE/79.142 Rev 1	WHO: 10665/68275
1979	Supplementary information to the report on smallpox eradication in China	Govt of People's Rep of China	GC.WP/79.5	DAH: Chesney Med Arch

Japan

Historical Smallpox & Its Control

* Cited in Smallpox and its Eradication, Fenner et al, WHO 1988
WHO documents are in italics

Year	Title	Authors	Source	URL
1947	Ezo tô bi shi kô (a historical study of smallpox and syphilis in the Island of Ezo)	Takahasi S	Isis 1947 32(85): 177
1986	[A study on measles and variola in the present texts of "Daidoruishuho"] (Jpn)] Japanese	Nakamura A	Nihon Ishigaku Zasshi 1986 32(3): 268-80
*1983	Smallpox mortality in a mountainous district in Japan where neither variolation nor vaccination had been performed	Suda K, Soekawa M	Nihon Ishigaku Zasshi 1983 29(1): 83-94,
1984	[Propaganda bills for vaccination distributed during the Kaei Period in Japan] Japanese	Soekawa M	Nihon Ishigaku Zasshi 1984 30(1): 62-84
1984	[News in Javasche Courant, dated January 5th, 1850, which reported the successful introduction of a cowpox strain into Japan] Japanese	Soekawa M	Nihon Ishigaku Zasshi 1984 30(3): 268-76
*1984	Contributions of Shibasaburo Kitasoto to the improvement of smallpox vaccine in Japan	Soekawa M	Nihon Ishigaku Zasshi 1984 29: 348-52
2011	Smallpox and the epidemiological heritage of modern Japan: towards a total history	Suzuki A	Med Hist 2011 55(3): 313-8	DOI: 10.1017/s0025727300005329 PMC: PMC3143877

Smallpox in the 20th Century

Year	Title	Authors	Source	URL
2002	Smallpox, October 1945	Dworetzky M	N Engl J Med 2002 346(17): 1329	DOI: 10.1056/NEJM200204253461715
1996	Smallpox 1945—smallpox 1996	Robson GB	Pharos Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Med Soc 1996 59(2): 42
1947	An outbreak of smallpox in American military personnel in Japan	Agerty HA	N Engl J Med 1947 237(9): 305-9	DOI: 10.1056/NEJM194708282370903
1964	Studies on the cowpox-like disease outbreak in Hokkaido, Japan. I. Isolation of the causative agent	Soekawa M, Matsumoto K, Izawa H, Iwabuchi H, Takahashi K	Nihon Juigaku Zasshi 1964 26(1): 25-41	DOI: 10.1292/jvms1939.26.25
1964	Studies on the cowpox-like disease outbreak in Hokkaido, Japan. II. Properties and identification of the isolates	Soekawa M, Izawa H, Iwabuchi H, Matsumoto K, Takahashi K	Nihon Juigaku Zasshi 1964 26(6): 295-314	DOI: 10.1292/jvms1939.26.295
1970	[On vaccination programs. Appeal by the parent of a child with brain damage caused by smallpox vaccination] Japanese	Shibuya K	Kango Kyoiku 1970 11(11): 47-56
1973	Smallpox Surveillance Report #89, 13 Apr 1973 Importation: Japan	Smallpox unit, WHO	Wkly Epidemol Rec 1973 48(15):167-70	WHO: 10665/219341 DAH: Chesney Med Arch
1973	Studies on a heat-labile variola virus inhibitor in normal sera. I. Detection by the variola focus reduction assay and its general characteristics	Kitamura T, Miyagawa Y, Tanaka Y	Intervirology 1973 1(4): 278-87	DOI: 10.1159/000148856
1975	[Recent cases of complications of smallpox vaccination in Miyagi Prefecture (author's transl)] Japanese	Tsunoda A	Rinsho Byori 1975 23(7): 496-9

Other Countries

Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos)

* Cited in Smallpox and its Eradication, Fenner et al, WHO 1988
WHO documents are in italics

Year	Title	Authors	Source	URL
1995	[Smallpox control in Indochina: variolation vs vaccination?] French	Guenel A	Hist Philos Life Sci 1995 17(1):55-79
1967	Smallpox eradication surveillance report, Draft 2, Dec 1967 Assesssment survey: Laos	Smallpox unit, WHO	SE/SR/67.2	WHO: 10665/67094

Malaysia

Year	Title	Authors	Source	URL
1958	Smallpox in North Kedah (1946-47)	Chakravarthy S	Med J Malaysia 1958 12(3): 515-30
1965	Freeze-dried smallpox vaccine; Report of a trial in Kuala Lumpur	Maitland HB	Med J Malaysia 1965 20(1): 8-10
1972	Smallpox vaccination: Complications and present role	Balasundram R	Med J Malaysia 1972 27(2): 89-94
1974	The effect of early BCG and smallpox immunization on serum bilirubin levels in the newborn	Sinniah D, Nagalingam I, Chua CP, Khoo KP, Dugdale AE	Clin Pediatr (Phila) 1974 13(9): 765-6	DOI: 10.1177/000992287401300913

Papua New Guinea

Year	Title	Authors	Source	URL
1967	Sequelae following smallpox vaccination in the Sepik District of the Territory of Papua and New Guinea	Saint-Yves IF, Crouch E, Rumold M	Med J Aust 1967 1(12): 599-601	DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1967.tb21494.x

Philippines

Year	Title	Authors	Source	URL
*1924	Small-pox and vaccination in the Philippines	McVail JC	Br Med J 1924 2(3320): 281-2	DOI: 10.1136/bmj.2.3320.281 PMC: PMC2304817

Singapore

Year	Title	Authors	Source	URL
1973	Smallpox and vaccination in early Singapore. I. (1819-1829)	Lee YK	Singapore Med J 1973 14(4): 525-31
1977	Smallpox in early Singapore (Part III) (1850-1859)	Lee YK	Singapore Med J 1977 18(1): 16-20
1977	Smallpox in early Singapore (part IV) (1860-1872)	Lee YK	Singapore Med J 1977 18(2): 126-35
1960	Smallpox in Singapore: a review of some epidemiological features	Kanagaratnam K	Public Health 1960 74: 344-53	DOI: 10.1016/s0033-3506(60)80014-5

Autonomous Region of Tibet in the People's Republic of China

Year	Title	Authors	Source	URL
1979	Smallpox eradication in the Autonomous Region of Tibet in the People's Republic of China	Govt of People's Rep of China	WHO/SE/79.151	WHO: 10665/68284

Vietnam

Year	Title	Authors	Source	URL
1995	[Smallpox control in Indochina: variolation vs vaccination?] French	Guenel A	Hist Philos Life Sci 1995 17(1):55-79
1953	[The hemogram in smallpox in North Viet-Nam] French	Bauge	Sang 1953 24(1): 23-37
1970	No smallpox in Vietnam	Lane JM	N Engl J Med 1970 283(26): 1468	DOI: 10.1056/NEJM197012242832618
1978	Report to the Global Commission for Certification of Smallpox Eradication--Socialist Republic of Viet Nam		SME/78.26, Annex 6 [Coissued as GC WP/78.44]	WHO: 10665/68306
1978	Report to the Global Commission for Certification of Smallpox Eradication, Socialist Republic of Viet Nam	Ministry of Health, Viet Nam and WHO	WHO/SE/78.133	WHO: 10665/68265