ELIMINATION OF INFECTIONS AS A SCIENTIFIC PROBLEM
The elimination of infectious and parasitic diseases is discussed by the international medical community from time to time. At the same time the continuity of concepts inevitably loses and a new terminology associated with this theme is initiated at each new stage. The paper considers trends in research and practice communities’ attitude to the idea of eliminating infections, as well as the role of Russian scientists in the development of the above problem. It shows that not only and no so much vaccines, but also other preventive and antiepidemic measures may eliminate only controlled infection and may be a tool to control an epidemic process. A list of infections and invasions which may be theoretically eliminated by available means is given.