The World's Last Natural Case of Smallpox
Merca, Somalia
What happened
In 1977, Ali Maow Maalin was a 23-year-old hospital cook in the port of Merca, Somalia, who had also worked as a vaccinator in the World Health Organization's smallpox program. When a driver carrying two sick children stopped at his hospital to ask directions to an isolation camp, Maalin helped. Health workers then vaccinated about 50,000 people around his home in two weeks.
Why it matters
Maalin was the last recorded case of naturally occurring smallpox. The disease had harmed people for about 3,000 years, and it became the only infectious disease ever declared eradicated.
What came next
WHO declared smallpox eradicated in 1980. Maalin later worked with WHO on the polio eradication campaign in Somalia.
Did you know?
The very first successful vaccine, created by Edward Jenner in 1796, was made against smallpox.
Timeline
- 1796Edward Jenner creates the first successful vaccine, against smallpox.
- 1967WHO launches an intensified plan to eradicate smallpox.
- 1977The last known natural case is found in Merca, Somalia.
- 1980WHO declares smallpox eradicated.