Ho Wang Lee, South Korean microbiologist and epidemiologist ((Sinhung, South Hangyong Province 26 October 1928 – 05 July 2022)

With P.W. Lee developed a sensitive diagnostic test for clinical hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome using lung sections of infected mice (1976)

Identified (1976) and isolated (1978) the Hantaan virus, causative agent of Korean hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, being the first member of hantaviruses

With  P. W. Lee & K.M. Johnson. Isolation of the etiologic agent of Korean hemorrhagic fever. J. Infect. Dis. 137:298-308, 1978

Elucidated epizootiology and epidemiology of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (1979-85)

Identified the Seoul virus

With L.J. Baek & K.M. Johnson. Isolation of Hantaan virus, the etiologic agent of Korean hemorrhagic fever, from wild urban rats. J. Infect. Dis. 146:638-44, 1982

With Luck Ju Baek developed vacine Hantavax (1989)

With Tetsuo Tomiyama developed a rapid method of serodioagnosis for hantavirus (1990)

Developed an effective inactivated Hantaan-Puumala combination vaccine

Obtained tissue culture of Japanese encephalitis virus

HONOURS

Prince Mahidol Award, Thailand  (1994) 

Foreign Member, US National Academy of Sciences USA