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William H. Foege, Former CDC Director and Smallpox Eradication Leader, Dies at 89

lite News Desk 2 min read

At a glance

  • William H. Foege died on January 24, 2026, in Atlanta at age 89
  • He co-founded the Task Force for Global Health
  • He served as CDC Director from 1977 to 1983
  • He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012

William H. Foege, a public health specialist known for his work in disease eradication, died on January 24, 2026, at his home in Atlanta at the age of 89.

According to published sources, Foege died of congestive heart failure. His career included leadership roles in several health organizations and the development of strategies to control infectious diseases.

Foege co-founded the Task Force for Global Health and served as Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 1977 to 1983. He also held positions as executive director of The Carter Center and as a senior fellow at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

While working in Nigeria during the 1960s, Foege devised the “ring containment” approach, which was used to help eradicate smallpox. This method focused on identifying and vaccinating people in close contact with infected individuals to prevent the spread of the disease.

What the numbers show

  • Foege died at age 89 on January 24, 2026
  • He served as CDC Director for six years, from 1977 to 1983
  • Global childhood immunization coverage increased from about 20% to 80% during his work with the Task Force for Global Health
  • He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012

In addition to his work on smallpox, Foege contributed to increasing global childhood immunization rates. Through the Task Force for Global Health, he helped raise immunization coverage from roughly 20 percent to 80 percent worldwide.

Throughout his career, Foege was recognized with several awards. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012, the National Medal of Freedom, the Lasker Award, and the President’s Medal from Emory University. In 2009, the CDC Foundation presented him with the Hero Award for his contributions to public health and the development of the smallpox eradication strategy.

Foege also served as Presidential Distinguished Professor Emeritus of International Health at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. His academic and professional work influenced global health initiatives and public health education.

His legacy includes the development of disease containment strategies, leadership in public health institutions, and efforts to improve immunization coverage worldwide. Foege’s work has been recognized by a range of organizations and institutions for its impact on global health.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.

Sources and further reading

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