Key Points
New Delhi: Chinese virologist Zhang Yongzhens tussle with Chinese authorities over the alleged closure of his laboratory in Shanghai has sparked a debate about transparency in global health...
Earlier this week, 59-year-old Zhang, who defied Chinas gag order in January 2020 by being the first to disclose the genome of SARS-CoV-2 to a global database, slept overnight at the entrance of his laboratory...
For the team of researchers Zhang Yongzhen who carry out scientific research activities in the region, the hospital has provided additional office and experimental places in the scientific research building, the SPHCC said in a statement quoted by Chinese media...
Meanwhile, Yanzhong Huang, senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations and professor at Seton Hall Universitys School of Diplomacy and International Relations, raised questions as to why Chinese officials were eager to force Zhang out...
In a recent piece for Think Global Health titled A Virus Hunters Struggle for Respect in Post-COVID China, Yanzhong explains that while Chinese authorities took credit for Zhangs decision to share his findings of the COVID-19 genome with the world in 2020, some health officials were reportedly displeased with Zhangs decision as they felt it had disrupted their plans...
