> 
> Man's track record in actually defeating invasive pests and pathogens is
> dismal.  I may be out of date, but I think that the only successful
> eradication of any ag pest was the Boll Weevil program, which was launched
> in the 1970s, and declared a success in the 2000s.  Anyone know of any
> other
> examples? 

Brucellosis in Australia, and a number of reductions so great as to make
them a non issue.  Prickly Pear, rabbits, Water Hyacinth and it appears
Paterson's Curse (Echium plantagineum) is being controlled. 

> For humans, smallpox is extinct in the wild, and we are getting
> close to eradicating polio, but again, it is very hard to eradicate
> anything completely.

True, but again many of the diseases are virtually eliminated in first world
countries.  

Geoff Manning

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