Dr. William Foege, leader in smallpox eradication, dies

Public Health Pioneer Dr. William Foege, Who Helped Eradicate Smallpox, Dies at 89

Dr. William Foege, a towering figure in global public health who led the successful worldwide campaign to eradicate smallpox, died Saturday in Atlanta at the age of 89, according to the Task Force for Global Health, an organization he co-founded.

Standing 6-foot-7, Foege was as imposing physically as he was intellectually in the field of public health. A brilliant medical doctor known for his calm demeanor and strategic mind, he revolutionized approaches to combating infectious diseases that saved countless lives worldwide.

Foege’s greatest achievement came during his work as a medical missionary in Nigeria in the 1960s, where he developed the groundbreaking “ring containment” strategy for smallpox eradication. Rather than attempting mass vaccination of entire populations—an approach hampered by limited vaccine supplies—Foege’s method involved identifying each smallpox case and then vaccinating everyone who might have come in contact with infected individuals.

“The method relied heavily on quick detective work and was born out of necessity,” Foege later explained in his 2011 book “House on Fire,” which chronicled the smallpox eradication effort. This targeted approach proved remarkably effective and became the cornerstone of the global campaign that ultimately eliminated one of humanity’s deadliest scourges.

Smallpox had plagued humanity for centuries, killing approximately one-third of those infected and leaving survivors permanently scarred from its characteristic pus-filled lesions. Thanks largely to Foege’s innovative approach, the last naturally occurring case was documented in Somalia in 1977. Three years later, in 1980, the World Health Organization officially declared smallpox eradicated—marking the first and still only human disease to be completely eliminated from the planet through vaccination.

“If you look at the simple metric of who has saved the most lives, he is right up there with the pantheon,” said former CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden, who regularly consulted with Foege. “Smallpox eradication has prevented hundreds of millions of deaths.”

Born on March 12, 1936, to a Lutheran minister father, Foege developed an early interest in medicine while working at a drugstore in Colville, Washington, at age 13. He earned his medical degree from the University of Washington in 1961 and a master’s in public health from Harvard in 1965 before embarking on his transformative career.

Foege went on to serve as director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 1977 to 1983, where he continued to advance public health initiatives during a critical period. His leadership at the CDC came during the early emergence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, establishing important foundations for the agency’s response to this new public health crisis.

Following his tenure at the CDC, Foege took on several influential roles in global health, serving as executive director at The Carter Center and later as a senior fellow at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. His work helped shape modern approaches to tackling diseases in developing countries, emphasizing community involvement, strategic resource deployment, and evidence-based interventions.

In recognition of his extraordinary contributions, President Barack Obama presented Foege with the Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, in 2012. Four years later, while conferring an honorary degree, Duke University President Richard Brodhead aptly referred to him as “the Father of Global Health.”

Dr. Patrick O’Carroll, CEO of the Task Force for Global Health, paid tribute to Foege’s enduring legacy: “Bill Foege had an unflagging commitment to improving the health of people across the world, through powerful, purpose-driven coalitions applying the best science available. We try to honor that commitment in every one of our programs, every day.”

Foege’s approach to public health challenges combined rigorous science with practical solutions adapted to real-world constraints. His success demonstrated that with strategic thinking and targeted interventions, even seemingly insurmountable health challenges could be overcome. This philosophy continues to influence global health initiatives today, from polio eradication efforts to responses to emerging infectious diseases.

His death marks the passing of a visionary who fundamentally changed how the world approaches public health emergencies and disease prevention, leaving behind a legacy of countless lives saved and a blueprint for addressing future health challenges.