Zhong Nanshan is a Chinese famous medical expert who played a huge role in studying the origin, of SARS, a lethal(致命的) respiratory(呼吸的) disease in 2003 and controlled the SARS outbreak in Guangdong Province back then.
In 2020, while many people in China are taking high-speed trains back home for Chinese New Year holiday, Zhong was caught traveling on the high- speed train to Wuhan.
Zhong Nanshan is a Medical Professor of Guangzhou Medical College. He graduated from Beijing Medical College, majoring in Medical Science. From 1979 to 1981, Dr. Zhong worked as a associate researcher at the Department Respiratory Medicine, Royal Infirmary, University of Edinburgh and St. Bartholomew's Hospital,
University of London. He was President of Chinese Thoracic Society ( 2000-2007 ) and. the former President of Chinese Medical Association (2005-2009). At present, he is Director of Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, and Director- General of China State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease. Besides, he has been an acadermician of Chinese Academy of Engineering since 1996, which is the highest academic position in the field of medicine in China.
In 2003, people in China and around the world went through a terrible experience, SARS. By Aug. 7,2003, it had taken about 916 lives worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.
In the middle of this deadly disease, Zhong Nanshan became a trusted name across China. At the age of 67 at that time, Zhong stood on the front line in the fight against SARS. Some doctors and nurses died after getting infected(感染) with SARS themselves. But Zhong was not afraid. He asked for the most badly affected patients to be sent to his hospital. .
Zhong always told the truth. When some experts said chlamydia(衣原体病) was the main cause of SARS, Zhong had a different opinion. He thought chlamydia might be one cause of death, but not the only cause of SARS. Not long after that, he created a great treatment method for SARS. Guangdong Province ended up with the lowest deaths for SARS in China thanks to his success.
His work to find the truth not only earned him fame. More importantly, he got the trust of his patients and respect from the people. "When others say something, people may not believe them, a friend of Zhong's said to Life Week." But when Zhong says it, they believe in him. "This trust has gone beyond the medical research. Zhong is not just a doctor, but a spokesperson for public health, according to Life Week. Zhong, now 85, still sees patients at his hospital, as well as teaches young doctors.
