Wu Zunyou (simplified Chinese: 吴尊友; traditional Chinese: 吳尊友; pinyin: Wú Zūnyǒu; 24 June 1963 – 27 October 2023) was a Chinese epidemiologist.[1] Wu served as the chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and an adjunct professor of epidemiology at the University of California, Los Angeles until his death from pancreatic cancer on 27 October 2023, at the age of 60.[2][3]

Wu Zunyou
吴尊友
Wu in 2022
Born(1963-06-24)June 24, 1963
Huangshan city, Anhui, China
DiedOctober 27, 2023(2023-10-27) (aged 60)
Beijing, China
EducationAnhui Medical University (Epidemiology, Master's degree)
University of California, Los Angeles (Epidemiology, Doctor of Philosophy)
Political partyChina Association for Promoting Democracy
Scientific career
FieldsEpidemiology
InstitutionsChinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Education

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In 1980, Wu Zunyou passed the college entrance examination and was admitted to the Department of Health of Anhui Medical University. Wu obtained a master's degree in epidemiology from Anhui Medical University in 1988. In the same year, he joined the Anhui Provincial Epidemic Prevention Station. He then obtained a PhD in epidemiology from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1995. From 1995 to 1997, he engaged in postdoctoral research at the Postdoctoral Research Station of the Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine Sciences. His co-supervisor was Zeng Yi.[4]

Career

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In 2003, he participated in the prevention and control work of SARS.In 2005, Wu Zunyou served as director of the China Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of STDS and AIDS, engaging in work related to the prevention and treatment of AIDS.[5] In April 2017, he served as chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.In January 2023, Wu Zunyou was elected as a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Death

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Died of pancreatic cancer at 12:56 on October 27, 2023, at the age of 60;[6] according to his last wish, the funeral was kept simple and no farewell ceremony was held.[7] After Wu Zunyou died, his alma mater, Anhui Medical University, established the Wu Zunyou Scholarship.[8]

Honor

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On May 27, 2022, at the 75th World Health Assembly, the World Health Organization awarded the Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotionto the chief epidemiologist of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention Professor Wu Zunyou, in recognition of his outstanding achievements in AIDS prevention and control, health promotion and other fields.[9]

References

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  1. ^ Wu, Huizhong (27 October 2023). "China's chief epidemiologist who helped drive the anti-COVID fight dies at age 60". AP News. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  2. ^ Hao, Peter; Zhang, Ying; Li, Zhenjun; Xi, Jingjing; Tan, Feng (21 August 2020). "Zunyou Wu, China CDC's Chief Expert of Epidemiology". China CDC Weekly. 2 (34): 669–670. doi:10.46234/ccdcw2020.175. PMC 8422249.
  3. ^ Yu, Evelyn (27 October 2023). "China CDC's Chief Epidemiologist Wu Zunyou Dies at Age 60". Bloomberg. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  4. ^ "中疾控流行病学首席专家吴尊友因胰腺癌去世,享年60岁" (in Chinese). 27 October 2023. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  5. ^ 彭川霖主编 (2004). 中国科技之光. 北京: 中国科学技术出版社. p. 261. ISBN 7-5046-3907-9.
  6. ^ 岳怀让; 张晨; 张依琳 (27 October 2023). "知名流行病学家、中国疾控中心流行病学首席专家吴尊友逝世". 澎湃新闻 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  7. ^ "讣告" (in Chinese). Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 27 October 2023. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  8. ^ "吴尊友母校安徽医大设吴尊友奖学金". 联合早报 (in Chinese). 4 November 2023. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  9. ^ "世卫组织授予吴尊友教授纳尔逊·曼德拉健康促进奖" (in Chinese). 中国政府网. 27 May 2022. Archived from the original on 27 October 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.