events
Ali Maow Maalin, the last natural case of smallpox, develops a rash in Somalia. The WHO and the CDC consider this date to be the anniversary of the eradication of smallpox, the most spectacular success of vaccination.

Related Wikipedia articles
Ali Maow Maalin
Hospital worker, last naturally acquired case of smallpox (1954–2013)
Ali Maow Maalin 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,…Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Smallpox
Eradicated viral disease
Smallpox was an infectious disease caused by Variola virus, which belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus. The last naturally occurring case was diagnosed in October 1977, and the World Health Organization (WHO) certified the global eradication of the disease in 1980, making smallpox…Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
World Health Organization
Specialized agency of the United Nations
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and has 6 regional offices and 150 field offices worldwide. Only…Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
United States government public health agency
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the national public health agency of the United States. It is a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Vaccination
Administration of a vaccine to protect against disease
Vaccination is the administration of a vaccine to help the immune system develop immunity from a disease. Vaccines contain a microorganism or virus in a weakened, live or killed state, or proteins or toxins from the organism. In stimulating the body's adaptive immunity, they…Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
October 26
Day of the year
October 26 is the 299th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 66 days remain until the end of the year.Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)