World’s oldest person Emma Morano celebrates 117th birthday
Emma Morano is believed to be the last surviving person in the world born in the 1800s. Photo: Getty
Emma Morano, the world’s oldest living person, has celebrated her 117th birthday.
Ms Morano, born on November 29, 1899, was raised in the Italian city of Vercelli but moved to the northern town of Verbania soon after, where she has lived ever since.
The supercentenarian is believed to be the last surviving person in the world born in the 1800s.
The 117-year-old followed the same diet for about 90 years of three eggs a day – two raw, one cooked – fresh Italian pasta and a dish of raw meat.
These days, though, she limits herself to just a few biscuits, but still swears by two raw eggs daily – a regime she took up soon after World War I when she was diagnosed with anaemia.
But her physician Dr Carlo Bava has credited Ms Morano’s long life to her genetic make-up, “and nothing else”.
Her mother reached the age of 91 and she had several sisters who reached their centenary.
Ms Morano took in the festivities for her milestone celebration sitting in an armchair in her one-room apartment, joined by her two elderly nieces, a pair of caregivers and her long-time physician.
She happily accepted some gifts, including her favourite cookies, which she ate with some milk.
Emma Morano when she was 43, and at 18 months. Photo: AP
Then she blew out the candles on her cake – not one for every year, but three numerals to show her age, 117 – and quipped, “I hope I don’t have to cut it!”.
To the assembled well-wishers, Ms Morano said: “I am happy to turn 117.”
“Who would have said it?,” her doctor, Dr Carlo Bava, remarked.
“When you were young everyone used to say you were weak and sick.”
She responded: “Yes, yes.”
Ms Morano’s life has spanned three centuries, two World Wars and more than 90 Italian governments.
Guinness World Records confirmed her as the world’s oldest person on May 16 this year, when she was 116 years and 169 days old.
Italy is known for its centenarians – many of whom live on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia – and gerontologists are studying Ms Morano, along with a handful of Italians over 105, to try to figure out their longevity.
-with agencies