Ali Maow Maalin

Ali Maow Maalin
Maalin in 1977, while infected with smallpox
Born
Ali Maow Maalin

1954
Merca, Trust Territory of Somaliland
Died22 July 2013(2013-07-22) (aged 58–59)
Merca, Somalia
NationalitySomali
Occupation
Known forLast person in history recorded to be infected with naturally occurring smallpox

Ali Maow Maalin (Somali: Cali Macow Macallin; also Mao Moallim[1] and Mao' Mo'allim;[2] 1954 – 22 July 2013) was a Somali hospital cook and health worker from Merca who is the last person known to have been infected with naturally occurring Variola minor smallpox. He was diagnosed with the disease in October 1977 and made a full recovery. Although he had many contacts, none of them developed the disease, and an aggressive containment campaign was successful in preventing an outbreak. Smallpox was declared to have been eradicated globally by the World Health Organization (WHO) two years later. Maalin was subsequently involved in the successful poliomyelitis eradication campaign in Somalia, and he died of malaria while carrying out polio vaccinations after the re-emergence of the poliovirus in 2013.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference bbc was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference boston was invoked but never defined (see the help page).