Dr Zhu Heping (pictured) was pronounced dead today by a hospital in Wuhan, according to Chinese state newspaper People’s Daily
A fourth co-worker of China’s coronavirus whistle-blower has reportedly died of the deadly disease at the age of 66.
Dr Zhu Heping, a colleague of late Dr Li Wenliang, was pronounced dead by a hospital in Wuhan today, according to Chinese state newspaper People’s Daily.
The news of his death comes after three other medics at Wuhan Central Hospital lost their lives to the fast-spreading contagion in the space of a month or so.
Three of the deceased medics, including Dr Zhu, were eye care professionals and the other specialised in breast and thyroid diseases.
It remains unclear if Dr Zhu had caught the infection from his patients.
Dr Zhu was a deputy director at the hospital’s department of ophthalmology.
He had been working in the hospital’s outpatient department before falling ill, said People’s Daily in a social media post, which cited a report from local paper Chutian Metropolis Daily.
Li Wenliang, 34, succumbed to the deadly contagion in the early hours of February 7 local time, despite attempts to resuscitate him. The ophthalmologist caught the public’s attention after he was reprimanded by police and accused of spreading ‘fake news’ for warning on social media of ‘SARS at a Wuhan seafood market’. His hospital initially denied reports of his death
Dr Jiang Xueqing (left) and Dr Mei Zhongming (right), who also worked for Wuhan Central Hospital, have lost their lives to the deadly disease. Dr Jiang, 56, specialised in treating diseases in the mammary gland and thyroid gland while Dr Mei, 57, worked with Dr Li Wenliang
Dr Zhu’s passing was confirmed by several of his colleagues, the article said.
One doctor said Dr Zhu had kept his illness quiet until he died today in the hospital’s ICU.
Another colleague described Dr Zhu as ‘hard-working’ and ‘dedicated’.
The colleague said Dr Zhu was rehired by the hospital after formally retired.
According to Chinese news outlet Caixin, Dr Zhu fell ill on February 3 and his symptoms appeared ‘intermittently’.
It is said he conducted self-quarantine in the beginning and alerted one of his colleagues on February 18 after his condition worsened.
He was transferred to Wuhan Union Hospital on February 19 from his hospital after infections had been detected in his lungs.
His heath deteriorated last night and he died this morning after all rescue efforts had failed, Caixin said.
Neither Wuhan Central Hospital or Wuhan Union Hospital has commented on reports of Dr Zhu’s death.
Four doctors at Wuhan Central Hospital have died of the coronavirus in the space of a month or so. A picture released by the hospital shows medical staff attending to coronavirus patient
A picture released by Wuhan Central Hospital shows medical staff transferring a patient
Medical workers at Wuhan Central Hospital are pictured wearing face shields while working
The news comes less than a week after another ophthalmologist at the hospital died of the coronavirus.
Dr Mei Zhongming, 57, was declared dead by Wuhan’s Jinyintan Hospital on March 3, said Wuhan Central Hospital.
Both Dr Zhu and Dr Mei worked in the same department as Dr Li, who was punished for sounding the alarm over the coronavirus outbreak before it spread and then died of the infection last month.
A fourth doctor from the hospital, Dr Jiang Xueqing, died of the infection on March 1. Dr Jiang, 56, specialised in treating diseases in the mammary gland and thyroid gland.
Mourners pay their respect to deceased Chinese doctor Li Wenliang during a vigil ceremony in Hong Kong on February 7. The public have accused Dr Li’s hospital of trying to cover up truth
Dr Li, 34, died of the coronavirus on February 7 having contracted it from his patients.
He caught the public’s attention after he was reprimanded by police and accused of spreading ‘fake news’ for warning on social media of ‘SARS at a Wuhan seafood market’ on December 30.
Dr Li’s post came two weeks before coronavirus broke out in the city of 14 million which has been locked down since January 23.
His death was initially reported by Global Times on the evening of February 6 before the Chinese state newspaper deleted the post. Wuhan Central Hospital then claimed doctors were still trying to revive him.
The hospital pronounced his death in the wee hours the next day.
He left behind his wife who is pregnant, their five-year-old son and his elderly parents, according to media.
A memorial is pictured outside the UCLA campus in Westwood, California on February 15
The picture shows tributes paid by British residents to Dr Li Wenliang outside Kings College in Cambridge on February 26. His death triggered an outpouring of anger from Chinese people
The medic’s death triggered an outpouring of anger from Chinese people who called him a hero and openly criticised their leaders for clamping down on the news.
Dr Li’s family was paid £90,000 after Beijing ruled his death a ‘workplace injury’.
The CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said in a statement that it promised a thorough investigation into the issues surrounding Dr Li.
Outpourings of public grief and fury escalated 11 days later when Dr Liu Zhiming, the head of Wuhan Wuchang Hospital, lost his life to the killer virus at the age of 51.
As in Dr Li’s case, reports of Dr Liu’s death were initially retracted by officials who claimed that he was still being resuscitated.
Since the outbreak started last December, at least 27 Chinese medical workers who dedicated themselves to fighting the epidemic have died, including 14 who died after contracting the disease.
The spread of the coronavirus continues to slow in China. Officials reported 40 new cases and 22 new deaths from yesterday, compared to 44 cases and 27 deaths from the day before
Of the 40 new confirmed cases, 36 were discovered in Wuhan, the origin of the virus’ outbreak
Chinese cities are gradually relaxing quarantine measures after a month of strict implementation while authorities keep a close watch on the virus’ spread overseas
Outside of China, more than 100 nations are now battling the contagion, with South Korea, Italy, Japan and Iran among the worst-affected. More than 360 people have died in Italy
The news of Dr Zhu’s death comes as the spread of the coronavirus continues to slow in China.
China’s National Health Commission (NHC) reported 40 new cases and 22 new deaths from yesterday, compared to 44 cases and 27 deaths from the day before.
Of the 40 new confirmed cases, 36 were discovered in Wuhan, the origin of the virus’ outbreak and its hotbed. None was discovered in other parts of Hubei Province, of which Wuhan is the capital.
The remaining four were cases imported from outside mainland China into the country’s Gansu Province.
Chinese cities are gradually relaxing quarantine measures after a month of strict implementation while authorities keep a close watch on the virus’ spread overseas.
As the virus slows its spread in Wuhan, the centre of the epidemic, authorities have reacted by halting operations of hospitals built specifically to house its patients.
State television reported on Sunday that operations of 11 makeshift hospitals had been suspended and the remaining ones would be out of service by around March 10, although they could be used again depending on the virus situation.
Outside of China, more than 100 nations are now battling the contagion, with South Korea, Italy, Japan and Iran among the worst-affected.
The global death toll has surpassed 3,869 and the total number of cases has reached over 110,800.