Friday 16th November was a land mark day for Dr Jenner’s House. Dr D A Henderson visited the museum as part of a recent UK visit.

Donald Ainslie Henderson, known as D.A. Henderson, is an American physician and epidemiologist, who headed the international effort during the 1960s to eradicate smallpox.

In 1966 Dr Henderson moved to Geneva to head the World Health Organization's Global Smallpox Eradication Campaign. Smallpox was at the time endemic in Brazil, Africa and South Asia.

In 1972 Dr Henderson helped suppress an outbreak of smallpox in Yugoslavia, the last epidemic of smallpox in Europe. In 1974 he was stationed in India during one of the largest epidemics in the 20th century and was instrumental in initiating the global program of immunization. This program has vaccinated 80 percent of the world's children against six major diseases and is striving to eradicate poliomyelitis.

The smallpox eradication campaign came to a successful conclusion in 1977 when the last case was reported in Somalia. It thus became the first infectious disease to be wiped out.

Donald Henderson, Director WHO Smallpox Eradication (1966-1977) is Patron of the Museum.

D.A Henderson spent time browsing the displays and exhibits in the museum before lunching with staff, volunteers and trustees.  D.A gave an informal talk about his own experience leading the Smallpox Zero campaign and the significance of Jenner's work in the role of the eradication of smallpox and the impact this work has had on the development of vaccines today.

“I think this is a splendid idea and certainly endorse

what you are doing." (Donald Henderson, August 2010)