The Record
49 milestones from 1757 to 2023. Each quote is copied word for word from the page linked under it, read on October 11, 2026. The short headline above each quote is ours.
1757
A Scottish physician shows measles is caused by an infectious agent in the blood
“Francis Home, a Scottish physician, demonstrated in 1757 that measles is caused by an infectious agent in the blood of patients.”
CDCHistory of MeaslesPage dated April 29, 2026
1796
Edward Jenner sees cowpox protect milkmaids from smallpox: vaccination begins
“The basis for vaccination began in 1796 when the English doctor Edward Jenner noticed that milkmaids who had gotten cowpox were protected from smallpox.”
CDCHistory of SmallpoxPage dated October 23, 2024
1814
Rubella is described as a disease of its own ("German measles")
“First described as distinct disease in German literature in 1814 (hence “German measles”)”
CDCPink Book: RubellaPage dated April 25, 2024
1882
Robert Koch announces the germ that causes tuberculosis
“On March 24, 1882, Dr. Robert Koch announced the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the germ that causes tuberculosis (TB).”
CDCHistory of World TB DayPage dated December 5, 2024
1883
The diphtheria bacterium is first seen under the microscope
“The bacterium was first observed in diphtheritic membranes by Edwin Klebs in 1883 and cultivated by Friedrich Löffler in 1884.”
CDCPink Book: DiphtheriaPage dated April 23, 2024
1889
Kitasato isolates the tetanus organism from a patient
“In 1889, Kitasato Shibasaburo isolated the organism from a human, showed that it produced disease when injected into animals, and reported that the toxin could be neutralized by specific antibodies.”
CDCPink Book: TetanusPage dated April 25, 2024
1912
Measles becomes a disease U.S. doctors and labs must report
“In 1912, measles became a nationally notifiable disease in the United States, requiring U.S. healthcare providers and laboratories to report all diagnosed cases.”
CDCHistory of MeaslesPage dated April 29, 2026
1914
The first whole-cell whooping cough (pertussis) vaccines are licensed in the U.S.
“Whole-cell pertussis vaccines were first licensed in the United States in 1914 and were available as a combined vaccine with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids (as DTP) in 1948.”
CDCPink Book: PertussisPage dated April 12, 2024
1923
A Nobel Prize for the discovery of insulin
“The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1923 was awarded jointly to Frederick Grant Banting and John James Rickard Macleod "for the discovery of insulin"”
Nobel PrizeThe Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1923Read October 11, 2026 (page shows no date)
1924
Tetanus toxoid is developed
“Tetanus toxoid developed in 1924 and widely used during World War II”
CDCPink Book: TetanusPage dated April 25, 2024
1945
A Nobel Prize for penicillin "and its curative effect"
“The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1945 was awarded jointly to Sir Alexander Fleming, Ernst Boris Chain and Sir Howard Walter Florey "for the discovery of penicillin and its curative effect in various infectious diseases"”
Nobel PrizeThe Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1945Read October 11, 2026 (page shows no date)
1952
Smallpox is eliminated in North America
“By the time the Intensified Eradication Program began in 1967, smallpox was already eliminated in North America (1952) and Europe (1953).”
CDCHistory of SmallpoxPage dated October 23, 2024
1954
The measles virus is isolated in tissue culture
“John Enders and Thomas Chalmers Peebles isolated the virus in human and monkey kidney tissue culture in 1954.”
CDCPink Book: MeaslesPage dated April 24, 2024
1955
The inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) is licensed
“Inactivated poliovirus (IPV) vaccine was licensed for use in 1955 and was used extensively from that time until the early 1960s.”
CDCPink Book: PoliomyelitisPage dated May 1, 2024
1959
WHO starts a plan to rid the world of smallpox
“In 1959, the World Health Organization (WHO) started a plan to rid the world of smallpox.”
CDCHistory of SmallpoxPage dated October 23, 2024
1961
The first oral polio vaccines are licensed
“In 1961, type 1 and 2 monovalent oral poliovirus (mOPV) vaccines were licensed, followed by type 3 mOPV vaccine in 1962, and trivalent OPV (tOPV) vaccine in 1963.”
CDCPink Book: PoliomyelitisPage dated May 1, 2024
1962
The rubella virus is isolated
“Rubella virus isolated in 1962”
CDCPink Book: RubellaPage dated April 25, 2024
1963
The first live measles vaccine is licensed in the U.S.
“The first live, attenuated vaccine (Edmonston B strain) was licensed for use in the United States in 1963.”
CDCPink Book: MeaslesPage dated April 24, 2024
1965
The hepatitis B surface antigen is first described
“Australia antigen, later called hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), was first described in 1965, and the Dane particle (complete hepatitis B virion) was identified in 1970.”
CDCPink Book: Hepatitis BPage dated May 9, 2024
1967
WHO launches an intensified plan to eradicate smallpox
“The World Health Organization launched an intensified plan to eradicate smallpox in 1967.”
WHOSmallpox (health topic)Read October 11, 2026 (page shows no date)
1967
The Jeryl Lynn mumps vaccine is licensed in the U.S.
“The live, attenuated mumps vaccine (Jeryl Lynn strain) was licensed for use in the United States in 1967.”
CDCPink Book: MumpsPage dated May 1, 2024
1968
An improved, weaker measles vaccine goes into use
“In 1968, an improved and even weaker measles vaccine, developed by Maurice Hilleman and colleagues, began to be distributed.”
CDCHistory of MeaslesPage dated April 29, 2026
1970
WHO certifies malaria gone from the United States
“WHO certified the eradication of malaria from the U.S. in 1970.”
CDCThe History of Malaria in the United StatesPage dated October 26, 2024
1971
The combined MMR vaccine is licensed
“In 1971, a combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine was licensed for use in the United States.”
CDCPink Book: MeaslesPage dated April 24, 2024
1973
Rotavirus is identified as a cause of diarrhea
“First identified as cause of diarrhea in 1973”
CDCPink Book: RotavirusPage dated April 25, 2024
1977
The last known natural smallpox case, in Somalia
“The last known natural case was in Somalia in 1977.”
WHOSmallpox (health topic)Read October 11, 2026 (page shows no date)
1977
The first pneumococcal vaccine is licensed in the U.S.
“The first pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine was licensed for use in the United States in 1977.”
CDCPink Book: Pneumococcal DiseasePage dated May 1, 2024
1979
The last case of wild polio acquired in the United States
“The last case of wild poliovirus acquired in the United States was in 1979.”
CDCPink Book: PoliomyelitisPage dated May 1, 2024
1980
The World Health Assembly declares the world free of smallpox
“Almost two centuries after Jenner hoped that vaccination could annihilate smallpox, the 33rd World Health Assembly declared the world free of this disease on May 8, 1980.”
CDCHistory of SmallpoxPage dated October 23, 2024
1981
The first hepatitis B vaccine is licensed in the U.S.
“A plasma-derived Hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine was first licensed for use in the United States in 1981.”
CDCPink Book: Hepatitis BPage dated May 9, 2024
1982
March 24 is recognized as World TB Day, a century after Koch
“A century later, in 1982, the global health community recognized March 24 as World TB Day.”
CDCHistory of World TB DayPage dated December 5, 2024
1985
The first Hib vaccine is licensed in the U.S.
“A pure polysaccharide vaccine was licensed for use in the United States in 1985 and was used until 1988.”
CDCPink Book: Haemophilus influenzaePage dated May 21, 2024
1986
Guinea worm: about 3.5 million cases a year, the starting line for eradication
“There were an estimated 3.5 million Guinea worm cases occurring annually in 20 African and Asian countries in 1986, but today, through the Guinea Worm Eradication Program (GWEP), only a handful of countries continue to have the disease.”
CDCAbout Guinea Worm DiseasePage dated March 14, 2024
1986
The first recombinant hepatitis B vaccine is licensed
“The first recombinant HepB vaccine, Recombivax HB, was licensed in the United States in 1986.”
CDCPink Book: Hepatitis BPage dated May 9, 2024
1988
The World Health Assembly resolves to eradicate polio
“In 1988, the World Health Assembly passed a resolution to eradicate polio, leading to the establishment of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).”
CDCAbout Global Polio EradicationPage dated January 30, 2026
1995
The first hepatitis A vaccines are licensed in the U.S.
“Hepatitis A (HepA) vaccines were first licensed for use in the United States in 1995.”
CDCPink Book: Hepatitis APage dated May 21, 2024
1995
The chickenpox (varicella) vaccine is licensed in the U.S.
“Varicella vaccine was licensed for general use in Japan and Korea in 1988, and in the United States in 1995 for persons age 12 months or older.”
CDCPink Book: VaricellaPage dated May 9, 2024
1998
The first rotavirus vaccine is licensed, then withdrawn the next year
“A vaccine to prevent rotavirus gastroenteritis was first licensed in the United States in 1998 but was withdrawn in 1999 because of its association with intussusception, a type of bowel blockage when the bowel folds into itself like a telescope.”
CDCPink Book: RotavirusPage dated April 25, 2024
2000
Measles is declared eliminated from the United States
“Measles was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000.”
CDCHistory of MeaslesPage dated April 29, 2026
2001
The last identified case of rinderpest, the second disease ever eradicated
“With the last identified case dating back to 2001, Rinderpest has been eradicated globally and is now the second infectious disease, after smallpox for humans, for which this remarkable achievement has been made.”
WOAHRinderpestRead October 11, 2026 (page shows no date)
2004
Endemic rubella is declared eliminated in the United States
“In 2004, endemic rubella declared eliminated in the United States (fewer than 10 cases rubella and 1 case CRS per year)”
CDCPink Book: RubellaPage dated April 25, 2024
2005
The combined MMRV vaccine is licensed
“In 2005, a combination measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine was licensed.”
CDCPink Book: MeaslesPage dated April 24, 2024
2006
The first HPV vaccine is licensed in the U.S.
“A quadrivalent vaccine to prevent infection with four types of HPV was licensed for use in the United States in 2006, a bivalent vaccine was licensed in 2009, and a 9-valent vaccine was licensed in 2014.”
CDCPink Book: Human PapillomavirusPage dated April 23, 2024
2006
The first shingles (zoster) vaccine is licensed in the U.S.
“The first vaccine to reduce the risk of herpes zoster was licensed in the United States in 2006.”
CDCPink Book: ZosterPage dated May 9, 2024
2014
Treatments that can cure hepatitis C become available
“Safe and highly effective treatments that can cure hepatitis C have been available since 2014, yet few people receive treatment within a year of diagnosis.”
CDCClinical Care of Hepatitis C: TreatmentPage dated December 20, 2023
2015
Cuba is the first country validated for ending mother-to-child HIV and syphilis
“Cuba today became the first country in the world to receive validation from WHO that it has eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.”
WHOWHO validates elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis in CubaPage dated June 30, 2015
2020
The WHO African Region is certified free of wild polio
“Today, the Africa Regional Certification Commission certified the WHO African Region as wild polio-free after four years without a case.”
WHOGPEI applauds WHO African Region for wild polio-free certificationPage dated August 25, 2020
2021
WHO recommends the first malaria vaccine for wide use in children
“The World Health Organization (WHO) is recommending widespread use of the RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S) malaria vaccine among children in sub-Saharan Africa and in other regions with moderate to high P. falciparum malaria transmission.”
WHOWHO recommends groundbreaking malaria vaccine for children at riskPage dated October 6, 2021
2023
Guinea worm is down to 14 human cases in a year
“There were 14 human GWD cases reported in 2023 in Chad, South Sudan, Mali, Cameroon, and Central African Republic.”
CDCAbout Guinea Worm DiseasePage dated March 14, 2024