The Almanac

October 26

One thing science and human progress accomplished on this date.

  1. 1977

    The last natural case of smallpox

    Ali Maow Maalin, a hospital cook in Somalia, broke out in the rash of smallpox, the last person ever to catch the disease in the wild. He recovered, and no natural case has appeared since. It marked the final approach to wiping out a killer that had haunted humanity for thousands of years.

    Source: Wikipedia

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