Viktor Zhdanov
Encyclopedia
Viktor Mikhailovich Zhdanov (13 February 1914 - 1987) was a Russia
n virologist. He was instrumental in the effort to eradicate
smallpox
globally.
Zhdanov was born in the Ukrainia
n village of Shtepino (in present day Donetsk Oblast
). After Zhdanov graduated from medical school in 1936, he spent the next decade working as an army doctor, where he became interested in epidemiology
; this work would directly lead to his doctoral thesis on Hepatitis A
. In 1946, Zhdanov was invited to become Chief of the Epidemiology Department of the I. I. Mechnikoff Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology in Kharkov, becoming its director two years later. His work in virus classification saw him admitted to the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses
as a life member.
In 1958, Zhdanov, as Deputy Minister of Health for the Soviet Union
, called on the World Health Assembly
to undertake a global initiative to eradicate smallpox. The proposal (Resolution WHA11.54) was accepted in 1959. Zhdanov left the Ministry of Health in 1961, and focused on scientific research for the rest of his career. This work included studying influenza
, hepatitis
, and in the 1980s, the AIDS
virus.
In addition to his accomplishments in the field of public health, Professor Zhdanov chaired the Soviet Union
's Interagency Science and Technology Council on Molecular Biology and Genetics, which directed the Soviet biological weapons program.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n virologist. He was instrumental in the effort to eradicate
Eradication of infectious diseases
Eradication is the reduction of an infectious disease's prevalence in the global host population to zero. It is sometimes confused with elimination, which describes either the reduction of an infectious disease's prevalence in a regional population to zero, or the reduction of the global prevalence...
smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
globally.
Zhdanov was born in the Ukrainia
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
n village of Shtepino (in present day Donetsk Oblast
Donetsk Oblast
Donetsk Oblast is an oblast of eastern Ukraine. Its administrative center is Donetsk. Historically, the province is an important part of the Donbas region...
). After Zhdanov graduated from medical school in 1936, he spent the next decade working as an army doctor, where he became interested in epidemiology
Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study of health-event, health-characteristic, or health-determinant patterns in a population. It is the cornerstone method of public health research, and helps inform policy decisions and evidence-based medicine by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive...
; this work would directly lead to his doctoral thesis on Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is an acute infectious disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus , an RNA virus, usually spread the fecal-oral route; transmitted person-to-person by ingestion of contaminated food or water or through direct contact with an infectious person...
. In 1946, Zhdanov was invited to become Chief of the Epidemiology Department of the I. I. Mechnikoff Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology in Kharkov, becoming its director two years later. His work in virus classification saw him admitted to the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses
International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses
The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses is a committee which authorizes and organizes the taxonomic classification of viruses. They have developed a universal taxonomic scheme for viruses and aim to describe all the viruses of living organisms. Members of the committee are considered to...
as a life member.
In 1958, Zhdanov, as Deputy Minister of Health for the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, called on the World Health Assembly
World Health Assembly
The World Health Assembly is the forum through which the World Health Organization is governed by its 194 member states. It is the world's highest health policy setting body and is composed of health ministers from member states....
to undertake a global initiative to eradicate smallpox. The proposal (Resolution WHA11.54) was accepted in 1959. Zhdanov left the Ministry of Health in 1961, and focused on scientific research for the rest of his career. This work included studying influenza
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
, hepatitis
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a medical condition defined by the inflammation of the liver and characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ. The name is from the Greek hepar , the root being hepat- , meaning liver, and suffix -itis, meaning "inflammation"...
, and in the 1980s, the AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
virus.
In addition to his accomplishments in the field of public health, Professor Zhdanov chaired the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
's Interagency Science and Technology Council on Molecular Biology and Genetics, which directed the Soviet biological weapons program.