Celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations, Italy opens museum named after doctor who discovered SARS in Vietnam

Kỷ niệm 50 thiết lập quan hệ, Italy khai trương bảo tàng mang tên bác sĩ phát hiện bệnh SARS ở Việt Nam

Mayor of Castelplanio city speaks at the museum opening ceremony. (Source: VNA)

Attending the opening ceremony were Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Italian Deputy Minister of Health Marcello Gemmato, President of the Marche region Francesco Acquaroli, President of the Marche regional Legislative Assembly Dino Latini, President of the Ancona province Daniele Carnevali, Mayor of Castelplanio city Fabio Badiali, President of the Carlo Urbani Association of Italy Tommaso Urbani and representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy, along with many officials, medical experts and Italian and international friends.

Speaking at the museum's opening, WHO Director-General Ghebreyesus called Dr Carlo Urbani a "hero for the world", a symbol of the global fight against disease. His passion for preventive medicine and vaccination, as well as treatments in underdeveloped countries, remains relevant today. Ghebreyesus donated a plaque to the museum to commemorate the distinguished son of Castelplanio, which used to be located at WHO headquarters in Geneva.

Meanwhile, Counselor Nguyen Thai Hoc, on behalf of the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy, emphasized that this event once again paid tribute to Dr. Carlo Urbani, honoring his great and valuable contributions to world health in general, and his life's dedication to the cause of protecting health and saving people in particular.

Dr Carlo Urbani was an infectious disease expert at the WHO in Vietnam. He sacrificed his life in 2003 to study the SARS epidemic: thanks to his in-depth research and sacrifice, Vietnam was able to analyze and identify the virus agent that caused the disease. Through isolation and intensive care, he found a way to defeat SARS in a short time. His life is a testament to the deep friendship between Italy and Vietnam.

Twenty years after his death, there is a museum dedicated to Carlo Urbani, divided into three main areas, tracing his life, passion and activities as a doctor and scientist, with professional and human legacies, memorabilia and memories of the doctor who sacrificed himself for the cause of saving people.

WHO Director General and representative of the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy at the opening ceremony. (Source: VNA)

Dr. Carlo Urbani, who worked in Vietnam for many years, was the first to identify a new epidemic in 2003 - SARS; then he fell ill on the way to Thailand and died on March 29, 2003 at the age of 46. His death was not in vain. Before he died, he asked doctors to cut out his lungs for research. Two weeks after his death, thanks to those lungs, scientists discovered the corona virus and found a way to control the SARS pandemic.

WHO has honored the doctor - a hero in the fight against SARS, saying that "despite his early death, Dr. Carlo Urbani lived a full life. If he were still alive, he would still be an exemplary representative of WHO's mission - to protect health, ensure safety for the world and serve the vulnerable".

In 2022, the late Dr. Carlo Urbani was awarded the Grand Knight Order of Merit by the Italian government to honor his great contributions in discovering, identifying and responding quickly to new diseases, contributing to ensuring human health.