Prominent Indian-origin virologist in South Africa dies from coronavirus

World-renowned virologist Gita Ramjee has become the first Indian-origin South African to have died after contracting the unconventional coronavirus that has killed five people inside the US.

Ramjee, a stellar vaccine scientist and an HIV prevention research administrator, had again from London every week ago, however reportedly showed no signs and symptoms of COVID-19.

Ramjee, 64, was the Clinical Trials Unit Principal Investigator and Unit Director of the HIV Prevention Research Unit of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) workplaces in Durban.

“We are deeply saddened to tell you of the tragic passing of Prof Gita Ramjee in health facility today,” stated a statement issued by means of SAMRC President and CEO Glenda Gray.

“Prof Ramjee died of COVID-19 related complications,” Gray added.

In 2018, Ramjee turned into offered with the Outstanding Female Scientist Award in Lisbon through the European Development Clinical Trials Partnerships (EDCTP) for her lifetime dedication to finding new HIV prevention methods, that are conducive to the lifestyles, instances and perceived risk elements that South African women are engaged with.

“This award is an acknowledgement of the unwavering  intention with the aid of a global network to forever exchange the trajectory of the HIV/AIDS epidemic,” she had said at the time.

“Professor Gita Ramjee is a towering HIV prevention research chief whose work maintains to make contributions immensely to the global response to curb the HIV/AIDS epidemic,” Gray had stated after the Indian-beginning scientist acquired the award.

Ramjee became married to pharmacist Pravin Ramjee, a South African of Indian descent.

Her funeral preparations have not been announced. Attendance at funerals in South Africa is relatively limited and requires because the country goes through a 21-day national lockdown announced final week via President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Five South Africans have died from COVID-19 since Sunday, the 0.33 day of the lockdown. Over 13,50 instances have been reported inside the US so far.

The South African government on Tuesday announced that it'll double to 10,000 the groups going door-to-door to test people for COVID-19, mainly in the overcrowded Black townships created for the duration of the apartheid era.

On Sunday evening, in a country wide broadcast, Ramaphosa cautioned lots of South Africans who've now not been taking the lockdown seriously.

The death toll from the rapidly-spreading coronavirus pandemic has risen to 41,654 and over 850,580 human beings have been infected by means of the deadly virus, according to records from Johns Hopkins University.