On this day in 1977, Somali healthworker Ali Maow Maalin developed a rash: he had contracted smallpox. He entered isolation, his contacts were traced and vaccinated. Despite working with smallpox patients, Maalin had not been vaccinated... THREAD 👇 1/4
Maalin made a full recovery and was discharged in November 1977. On 17 April 1978 @WHO's Nairobi office sent a telegram which stated:
"Search complete. No cases discovered. Ali Maow Maalin is the world's last known smallpox case."
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"Search complete. No cases discovered. Ali Maow Maalin is the world's last known smallpox case."
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Later, Maalin worked across Somalia vaccinating people against polio.
"Now when I meet parents who refuse to give their children the polio vaccine, I tell them my story. I tell them how important these vaccines are. I tell them not to do something foolish like me."
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"Now when I meet parents who refuse to give their children the polio vaccine, I tell them my story. I tell them how important these vaccines are. I tell them not to do something foolish like me."
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"Somalia was the last country with smallpox. I wanted to help ensure that we would not be the last place with polio too."
Ali Maow Maalin contracted malaria in 2013 whilst carrying out vaccinations against polio. He died on 22 July 2013.
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Ali Maow Maalin contracted malaria in 2013 whilst carrying out vaccinations against polio. He died on 22 July 2013.
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