India achieved 'elimination' of maternal and neonatal tetanus in 2015, while smallpox achieved 'eradication' in 1980. The essential difference between eradication and elimination of disease is that eradication implies:

• A Reduction of transmission below one case per thousand population in all districts
• B Reduction of severe cases while sporadic infection continues at community level
• C Absence of disease in a defined geographical area while continuing control measures
• D Permanent worldwide reduction to zero incidence with no need for further control measures ✓

Explanation

Eradication means termination of all transmission of infection by extermination of the infectious agent globally, so that even surveillance and control measures can be stopped, as happened for smallpox. Option A describes the neonatal tetanus elimination criterion used by WHO, and option C describes regional elimination, where vaccination must continue because importation remains possible. Option B describes control. Only eradication removes the need for ongoing intervention.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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