Jiang Yanyong, surgeon and Sars whistleblower, 1931-2023

“I haven’t received any pressure, I haven’t suffered any restrictions, I live life as usual,” said Dr Jiang Yanyong, the former chief surgeon of China’s largest military hospital, in a state media interview in May 2003.

In April of that year, the retired physician had become the first pandemic whistleblower of the 21st century, after being frustrated by Beijing’s cover-up of the Sars outbreak.