Yuen Kwok-yung led the scientific team that identified SARS-CoV-1 in 2003, subsequently tracing the virus's genetic origins back to wild bats. A prolific researcher based in Hong Kong, he has authored nearly 800 peer-reviewed papers focusing on emerging infectious diseases and the identification of novel microbes like Human coronavirus HKU1 and Laribacter hongkongensis.
Medical Training and Early Career
Born in Tsan Yuk Hospital in 1956, Yuen attended Queen's College before entering the University of Hong Kong in 1976. He graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in 1981 with distinction. Initially practicing as a surgeon, he transitioned into medicine and eventually clinical microbiology. His early professional years included six years of service at the United Christian Hospital, followed by a move to the Queen Mary Hospital to join a research team. During the 1997 H5N1 avian influenza outbreak, Yuen utilized in-house molecular testing to identify the high mortality and severity of the virus, reporting his findings in The Lancet.
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By 2000, Yuen served as the scientific co-director of the HKU–Pasteur Research Centre and the University of Hong Kong. He currently serves as the Chair of Infectious Diseases at the Department of Microbiology of the University of Hong Kong and co-directs the State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Disease of China in Hong Kong. A member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Yuen maintains extensive responsibilities overseeing research into microbes utilized by the government for epidemic containment.
Contributions During the COVID-19 Pandemic
As an expert adviser to the Hong Kong government, Yuen played a central role in the public health response to SARS-CoV-2. He advocated for universal mask-wearing early in the pandemic and actively contributed to scientific literature, including a 2020 study on the first proven COVID-19 reinfection case. Throughout the crisis, he provided public guidance, isolated the Omicron variant in November 2021, and managed complex policy issues, such as the government’s 2022 decision to cull hamsters and the implementation of isolation strategies for the elderly.
Public Controversies and Advocacy
Yuen's career has featured moments of public scrutiny. He previously issued an apology after co-authoring an op-ed in Ming Pao that described the consumption of wild animals as a display of inferior culture. Additionally, he voiced concerns regarding the transparency of mainland health officials, asserting that he warned authorities of human-to-human transmission on 12 January 2020. He also criticized the cleaning of the Huanan seafood market, which he suggested disrupted critical evidence for identifying the animal host of the virus.
Fast facts
- Born: 30 December 1956
- Place of birth: Tsan Yuk Hospital, British Hong Kong
- Education: University of Hong Kong (1976-1981; 1996-1998)
- Awards: Silver Bauhinia Star
- Positions held: Justice of the Peace
- Primary research focus: Emerging infectious diseases
- Membership: Chinese Academy of Engineering
- Current status: Active
Questions readers ask
What was Yuen Kwok-yung's role in the 2003 SARS outbreak?
He led the research team that discovered SARS-CoV-1 and traced its genetic origins to wild bats.
Why is Yuen Kwok-yung an expert in infectious diseases?
He is a physician, surgeon, and microbiologist who has authored nearly 800 research papers on novel microbes and pandemic management.
Achievements
- Held posts at Hospital Authority and University of Hong Kong
