'World's First Hantavirus Discovery' Professor Lee Ho-wang to Rest at National Cemetery
[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter]The late Professor Lee Ho-wang, Honorary Professor at Korea University, who was the first in the world to discover the pathogen of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, will be buried at the National Cemetery.
On the 5th, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs announced that the National Cemetery Burial Eligibility Committee decided to designate Professor Lee as eligible for burial at the National Cemetery.
Professor Lee, who passed away last month at the age of 94, achieved the feat of first discovering the Hantaan virus and Seoul virus, pathogens of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, known as one of the world's three major infectious diseases along with AIDS and malaria. He also established the new genus Hantavirus, which includes these pathogens, in 1980.
This was the first pathogenic microorganism discovered by a Korean, and this research achievement has been internationally recognized and is currently included in medical and biology textbooks. In 1989, Professor Lee developed the diagnostic method for hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, and in 1990, he developed the world's first preventive vaccine (Hantavax), opening the way to quickly diagnose and prevent this disease with a fatality rate of 7%.
Hantavax was Korea's first new drug development, and it is said to be the world's first case where a single scientist discovered the pathogen, developed the diagnostic method, and created a preventive vaccine. On April 20, 2002, the Ministry of Science and ICT awarded Professor Lee the Order of Science and Technology Merit, Changjo Medal (1st class).
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According to the Act on the Establishment and Operation of the National Cemetery, Professor Lee can be buried at the National Cemetery as a 'National Social Contributor,' and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs plans to bury his remains at the National Daejeon National Cemetery after consulting with his bereaved family.
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