John Michael Lane

Field epidemiologist who helped to eradicate smallpox. He was born in Boston, MA, USA, on Feb 14, 1936, and died of colon cancer Atlanta, GA, Oct 21, 2020, aged 84 years. In the later years his life, J Michael Lane would self-deprecatingly refer himself as “a great expert most useless thing be an in”. one sense he right; final Director Smallpox Eradication at US Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC) post when WHO formally declared disease vanquished 1980. More generally, course, wrong. His extensive experience field epidemiology relevant other infectious diseases, continued disseminate knowledge through CDC, WHO, universities own country elsewhere. Retirement 2002 a technicality, remained active public health up during illness. Serious attempts not only contain but smallpox began 1967 launched its intensified campaign immunisation surveillance. had important part implementing plan, says Gregory Poland, Mary Lowell Leary Emeritus Professor Medicine Mayo Clinic Vaccine Research Group Rochester, MN, USA. didn’t work alone. “Donald Henderson architect along with Bill Foege Mike Lane. They were triumvirate,” explains Poland. And all three worked various times CDC. “Mike took significant responsibility response”, adds “but particular gathering data”. At time plan implemented, still endemic parts Africa Asia. Key plan's ultimate success adoption shift recommended by from mass vaccination ring vaccination. The latter relied surveillance containment locality outbreak, strict adherence detail. 2017 interview Raina MacIntyre, Global Biosecurity Kirby Institute University New South Wales Sydney, NSW, Australia, described just what this entailed: “You talk village leaders, religious same house four or five over period 10 days 2 weeks…We sure [health] workers educated about meant.” So long every infected person identified, their contacts vaccinated, painstaking paid off. studied medicine Harvard University, graduated 1961, joined CDC later, soon working team responsible tackling central west Africa. subsequently travelled India, Pakistan, Indonesia, elsewhere outbreaks occurred, 1973 charge CDC's unit. After eradication smallpox, until 1987, served Services. Thereafter, held academic posts Australian National Canberra Emory Atlanta. investigative mind”, MacIntyre. “He really across disciplines epidemiology…He excellent teacher training people. very humble, sort talked achievements…He motivated desire make difference contributing health.” Poland agrees, particularly Lane's work. “I call him shoe leather epidemiologist, meaning that wasn’t desk ivory tower. out there Africa, Yugoslavia….right fray things.” talks tenacity, field. recalls recent they drafting rewriting chapter virology textbook. “We massive together…going it line line. It we last couple drafts even mentioned me doing hospital bed. He’d been diagnosed cancer. surgery. pain medication.” This determination, however, otherwise relaxed personality, adds. often came meetings wearing tennis shoes open collar shirts, while rest us stuffy academics suits…But spoke people listened…there nobody else more in-the-field expertise.” leaves wife Lila, daughter Cynthia previous marriage, stepdaughter Annabel.