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Editorial
. 2021 Jun 5;62(1 Suppl 3):E3-E5.
doi: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2021.62.1S3.2134. eCollection 2021 Mar.

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and the teaching of Carlo Urbani in Vietnam: a lesson from history almost 20 years after SARS

[Article in Italian]
Mariano Martini  1   2
Affiliations
Editorial

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and the teaching of Carlo Urbani in Vietnam: a lesson from history almost 20 years after SARS

[Article in Italian]
Mariano Martini. J Prev Med Hyg. .

Abstract

Carlo Urbani was an infectious diseases expert for Health Organization (WHO), who in 2003, first identified Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) as a new and highly contagious disease. In February, 2003, an American businessman with an unknown lung disease was admitted to a hospital in Vietnam. Doctor Urbani immediately understood that it was a new virus and right after he alerted the WHO and the Vietnamese government; he involved also foreign doctors in the investigation of this case. He advised the authorities to immediately implement quarantine measures and thanks to his quick and unyielding response, the spread of the virus could be stopped quickly, many patients were identified and early isolated. His early warning to the World Health Organization triggered a swift and global response credited with saving numerous lives. He shortly afterwards himself became infected and died. The shut down of Vietnam’s first outbreak was really a very important step for the whole world community and the Urbani’s quick actions were crucial because ensured an early detection of SARS and an effective response from international community.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement The author declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Archive of the Carlo Urbani’ s family. (permission to reproduce the photo to Prof. Mariano Martini).
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
N Engl J Med. 2003 May 15;348(20):1953-66. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa030781. Epub 2003 Apr 10.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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