The only human disease to be eradicated from the planet is smallpox and it is widely believed that the next will be dracunculiasis, caused by the guinea worm. But, a piece I recently read makes me think that pubic lice (Pthirus pubis) has a squirming chance at becoming #2.
A summary of a recent journal article appeared in Clinical Infectious Disease reporting on a study in which an STD clinic reported a 26-fold drop in pubic lice between 2003 and 2013. The reason for the near eradication wasn't some magic new lice treatment, but possibly pubic hair shaving.
I guess making pubic lice homeless really exposes them to inhospitable conditions and they perish--not a bad thing for someone who dreams up extinction events for pathogens.
I wonder if the pubic lice think of Brazilian waxing the way the dinosaurs viewed that comet?