The eradication of the debilitating virus called smallpox, in the human species.
For a poignant sub-narrative, here -- consider how being the last person infected in the wild changed the life purpose of Ali Maalin -- as he became an advocate and volunteer for eradicating polio (by public health vaccinations, led by WHO), but sadly died of malaria during his efforts at vaccinating people against polio:
. . . .Ali Maow Maalin. . . (1954 – 22 July 2013) was a Somali hospital cook and health worker from Merca who is the last person known to be infected with naturally occurring Variola minor smallpox in the world. 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 reintroduction of the virus in 2013. . . .
Now you know -- Mr. Maalin's was truly a life well-spent. Ahem. Mr. Trump -- you should do better -- much better. Just because 30 per cent of America will watch tabloid TV, doesn't mean you need to pander. . . but I know this effort of mine (spewing electrons of good will, and science) will be lost on you. . . so I'll fall silent, and celebrate the real and life saving achievements of the life sciences, this day -- on my own, in private. Onward.
नमस्ते
2 comments:
Related and because I was recently in Cincinnati: https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/24/bill-gates-humanity-will-see-its-last-case-of-polio-this-year.html
Science helps~
And another reason to question the immigration ban: Sabin was a naturalized US citizen.
We are better together...
IMHO
This is simply. . . flawless, Anon.!
And yes, the story reinforces themes we follow closely here. Sold life science research put into practice -- as an (on balance) very good thing; the ending or mitigation of human suffering; the notion that the best scientific minds are born and educated, almost singularly without regard to geopolitical borders; and that in the end, we humans are a fairly decent lot -- especially as we come together for a common good. . . .
To your remark about ending polio -- it is ironic that it was a resurgence in Somalia, of just that dread virus, that led to the death of Mr. Maalin.
As you likely know already, he was helping vaccinate against Polio's 2013 resurgence in rural Somalia -- when he caught malaria, presumably from a mosquito where he was vaccinating people against polio. . . and paid with his life for it.
That sort of selflessness -- for very scant hope of any real level of earthly remuneration -- is more of what we need to teach young Americans. . . whether they just stepped off a boat, plane or train to arrive here -- or their forebears long ago came across on the Mayflower -- or whether their ancestors were kidnapped and sold into the unspeakable horrors of bondage -- to arrive here.
Out us many. . . one.
As you say -- so aptly -- IMHO(!).
Namaste. . .
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