Disease eradication means a
global absence of the pathogen (except in laboratories). We achieved this for
smallpox in 1980. Diseases suitable for eradication are usually those where humans are the only host, and where there’s an effective vaccine or other prevention strategy.
Disease elimination relates to
a country or a region, and is usually defined as the absence of ongoing community (endemic) transmission.
Elimination generally sits in the context of a
global eradication goal. The World Health Organisation sets a goal for eradication, and countries play their part by first achieving country-wide elimination.
Cases and small outbreaks may still occur once a disease is eliminated — imported through travel — but these don’t lead to sustained community transmission.
Finally, disease
control refers to deliberate efforts to reduce the number of cases to a locally acceptable level, but community transmission may still occur. Australia’s current suppression strategy, though seeking to quash community transmission, can be classified as disease control.