China SARS Fighter Returns to Battle Coronavirus

China SARS Fighter Returns to Battle Coronavirus

China SARS Fighter Returns to Battle Coronavirus

中国非典战士终南山重返战场对付冠状病毒

The public face of China’s effort to control a new kind of coronavirus is an 83-year-old doctor. China SARS Fighter Returns to Battle Coronavirus

中国努力控制新型冠状病毒的代言人是一位83岁的医生。

Zhong Nanshan is a specialist on respiratory diseases. He became famous 17 years ago for “daring to speak” in the fight against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, also known as SARS.

他就是呼吸系统疾病专家钟南山。17年前,他因在抗击严重急性呼吸系统综合症(SARS)时因“敢于直言”而出名。

Zhong has been named to lead the National Health Commission’s investigation into the new virus. The virus has frightened millions of Chinese who are traveling for the week-long Lunar New Year holiday, which starts on Saturday. The rising number of cases has affected financial markets worldwide.

钟南山被任命为国家卫生健康委员调查新病毒的负责人。中国农历新年为期一周的假期将于本周六开始,这个新型病毒使数百万赶上春运的中国人感到恐慌。越来越多的感染病例还影响了全球金融市场。

On Monday, Zhong reported that the virus could spread from person to person. Local health officials had said earlier that human-to-human transmission was limited. Monday night, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for strong action to stop the spread of the virus.

周一,钟南山报告称病毒可以通过人与人之间传播。当地卫生部官员早些时候曾表示,人与人之间的传播有限。周一晚上,中国国家主席习近平呼吁要采取强有力的行动来阻止病毒传播。

Zhong became famous in 2003 when China, of course was accused of covering up a major outbreak of SARS. Since then he has gained another kind of fame: pictures of him lifting weights to keep his muscular body are widely available on the internet.

钟南山在2003年盛传中国掩盖非典疫情期间出名。在那以后,他又因另一种形象而闻名:网上盛传他为了保持强健的肌肉而举重的照片。

On Tuesday, he told reporters in Guangzhou that the government had been truthful about reporting cases of the coronavirus. He also said the government was trying to deal with the outbreak with honesty and openness.

周二,他在广州告诉记者,政府对冠状病毒病例的报道是真实的。他还表示,政府正试图以诚实和开放的态度来应对疫情的爆发。

The virus first appeared in the city of Wuhan, which has 11 million people. On Thursday, officials closed off all transportation to and from the city. Sources told the Reuters news agency that Zhong had pushed for the move.

该病毒首先出现在拥有1100万人口的武汉市。周四,官方关闭了所有进出该市的交通。有消息人士告诉路透社,是钟南山推动了这一举措的实施。

China’s government also isolated two other communities: the nearby cities of Huanggang and Ezhou.

中国政府还隔离了另外两个社区:附近的黄冈市和鄂州市。

During the new virus outbreak, the government has warned officials that they may face public shame if they are not truthful about the number of people infected.

在新病毒爆发期间,政府警告官员称如果对受感染的病例不如实以告可能会遭受非议。

Daring to speak

敢于直言

In 2003, the situation was very different. Chinese officials were fearful of telling the truth about the SARS outbreak. At the time, Zhong talked to reporters.

2003年的情况与今天大不相同。中国官方害怕说出非典爆发的真相。当时,钟南山接受过记者的采访。

A video from 2003 shows him telling reporters how little was then understood about SARS. No one knew how the virus was spreading or the correct treatment.

2003年的一段视频显示,他告诉记者当时人们对非典知之甚少。没有人知道病毒是如何传播的,也没有人知道正确的治疗方法。

In a 2016 television program by state broadcaster CCTV, Zhong remembered a reporter asking him if the SARS outbreak was under control.

在2016年中央电视台的一个电视节目中,钟南山提到一位记者曾问他非典疫情是否得到了控制。

He said, “I couldn’t help myself. I said it’s not at all under control.”

他说:“我还是忍不住说了,疫情根本没有得到控制。”

The program praised Zhong for “daring to treat and daring to speak.”

节目称赞钟南山“敢治敢言”。

As many as 774 people died in the SARS crisis, which affected nearly 30 countries.

非典疫情导致774人死亡影响了近30个国家。

I’m Jonathan Evans.

乔纳森·埃文斯报道。