Photo: MANDEL NGAN / AFP / Getty Images
(Atlanta, GA) -- An Iowan who played a pivotal role in eradicating smallpox has died.
Dr. William Foege, a native of Decorah, developed the ring vaccination strategy in the 1960s, a method that helped stop smallpox outbreaks by identifying cases and quickly vaccinating people who had close contact with them.
Foege later served as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
He died on January 24th at his home in Atlanta.
Dr. Foege was 89.