The Chinese doctor who raised the alarm over the outbreak of coronavirus has died. The news was confirmed by The Global Times, a newspaper controlled by the communist party.
Li Wenliang, 34, was pronounced dead early Friday after an emergency intervention at a hospital in Wuhan.
Reports of Li's death were met with outrage by Chinese social media. Many users praised his decision to voice the disease in an authoritarian state.
The Global Times was among the state-run newspapers that withdrew from the mistrustful attitude it initially held against the ophthalmologist.
Chinese police targeted Li for "spreading rumors" after he posted on social media a warning that his hospital had treated several cases of flu-like symptoms.
Seven patients were quarantined and the symptoms were reminiscent of Sars (the virus that spread in 2003). He encouraged his colleagues to wear protective masks and clothing.
Four days later, he was summoned to the public security bureau and charged with "slander" that disrupted public order. He told them that if he kept talking about the disease, he would be brought to justice.
Lee was one of eight people the authorities targeted for "spreading rumors." He agreed not to publicly express his concern.
In early January, he treated a woman with glaucoma without realizing she was a carrier of the virus. During the operation, Li became infected.
On January 10, when China insisted there were no new cases of the virus, the doctor began to have fever and cough. Two days later, he was hospitalized and fell ill and his parents.
Li broke the silence from the hospital bed.
"If officials had informed the people about the epidemic, the situation would have been better. They should have been more open and transparent, ?he told The New York Times.
Coronavirus has so far claimed 563 lives. Health experts will meet next week in Geneva to develop a vaccine.
Source: The Guardian
