Constant vigilance!

I had a lecture this morning on emerging infectious diseases by the esteemed Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Lam Sai Kit. He talked mostly on the current issues and outcomes of emerging infectious diseases and his experience of working in the field.

Dr Lam, regarded as one of the most influential figures in the area of medical virology had received many awards including the Honorary Professorship of the Institute of Microbiology and Epidermiology, China (1991) and Japan Nikkei Asia Prize for Technological Innovation (2002).
He has also been made a fellow in various medical and scientific academies in the US, UK and Malaysia.
Lam retired at the end of 2003 as Professor and Chair of Medical Microbiology and Deputy Director of the Institute of Research Management and Consultancy of Universiti Malaya, and was later conferred Professor Emeritus by the university in August 2004.
The research findings of Lam had contributed significantly in reducing morbidity and mortality in a number of viral diseases, such as in the area of dengue, the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), and the discovery of Chikungunya virus as a cause of a dengue-like illness.
But it was the discovery of the Nipah virus as the new agent causing viral encephalitis (brain inflammation), after the severe outbreak of the illness in Malaysia between 1998 and 1999, that brought international attention and fame to the Malaysian scientist.

As I was siting there listening to him, it struck me that he somehow resembles Mad Eye Moody from the Harry Potter books. Not physically of course, but the way he talked about his experience during the Nipah virus and HFMD outbreaks in Malaysia really puts him as someone who knows what it is like to be out there combating these infectious diseases. He was at odds with the government, mainly the Ministry of Health when he disagreed with their diagnosis and manage to find the real cause of those outbreaks. To complete the picture, he constantly reminded us that everyone has to be on their guard and not relax, for doing so could give the opportunity for a disease to enter our country and cause an outbreak. Constant vigilance!

For those who read Harry Potter you'll know what I'm talking about and for those that don't, maybe you should :)