So far, the human race has eliminated just one disease in history: smallpox. But it’s on the cusp of adding a second virus — polio — to that list.
One special man in Somalia was at the battlefront of both eradication efforts. He died last week of a sudden illness at age 59.
Ali Maow Maalin was the last member of the general public — worldwide — to catch smallpox. And he spent the past decade working to end polio in Somalia.
via Last Person To Get Smallpox Dedicated His Life To Ending Polio : Shots – Health News : NPR.