Polio

Martha Lillard, the last known individual in the United States to be kept alive by an iron lung due to polio, passed away at the age of 78. Lillard contracted polio at age five, a viral disease that attacks the nervous system and can cause paralysis. For the majority of her life, she relied on an iron lung, a mechanical respirator that enclosed her body and used air pressure changes to assist breathing. Her death in Oklahoma marks the end of an era for polio survivors who required such extensive life support. Polio was once a widespread and feared disease, but widespread vaccination campaigns have drastically reduced its incidence globally. Lillard's passing serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact polio had and the importance of continued public health efforts to eradicate the disease.