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361. Jonas Salk: The Man who Cured the World
During the early part of the 20th Century,
was considered one of the greatest health threats
the United States of America. Polio was a
disease that took its victim's lives, or left
with major disabilities. In 1952, the U.S. suffered
of its harshest epidemics of polio in its
. More than 58,000 cases of polio were reported
year, and 3,145 people lost their lives. Additionally,
than 21,000 people suffered some form of paralysis
ranged from mild paralysis to extreme cases where
became disabled. Dr. Jonas Salk is responsible for
that plague.
Born in New York City on
28, 1914, Jonas Salk grew up in modest
. His parents were not wealthy, but they were
to put food on the table, and maintain
roof over their children's head. Salk demonstrated great
success from childhood. By the age of 13,
was enrolled into a school for gifted children.
was considered a perfectionist by his peers, and
academically in a very competitive environment. In college,
opted to go into medical school even though
mother wanted him to become an attorney. After
from medical school, Salk began his research on
, which was considered a scourge of western society.
had baffled medical science since its discovery in
mid-19th Century. When Salk turned his attention to
disease, there was little hope that anyone could
an adequate cure. Salk developed his vaccine in
early 1950s, and in April of 1955, his
was heralded in newspapers across the country. Salk
a national hero. His vaccine effectively ended the
epidemic in the United States and many countries
the world.
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