On January 30, the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency on the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) that originated in Wuhan. Healthcare experts have warned that COVID-19 could rapidly spread, if not properly contained, and many governments around the world have begun to take precautionary measures to ensure public health safety. Amid the international concern and heightened fears about the disease, what is fact and what is fiction? Asia Society Hong Kong Center brings you regular updates on COVID-19 that has global reverberations, and presents on-the-ground public health experts and internationally renowned specialists with the latest facts and evidence-based findings. In episode 18, hear from Prof. Ivan Hung, Honorary Consultant at Queen Mary Hospital and Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at LKS Faculty of Medicine at The University of Hong Kong. S. Alice Mong, Executive Director of Asia Society Hong Kong Center, will moderate.

Got questions? Ask them here

Ivan Hung is Ru Chien and Helen Lieh Endowed Professor in Health Sciences Pedagogy, Clinical Professor, Assistant Dean of Admissions, and Chief of Division of Infectious Diseases of the LKS Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Medicine at The University of Hong Kong. He also serves as Honorary Consultant at Queen Mary Hospital, and Fellow of Royal Colleges of Physicians of London and Edinburgh. Prof. Hung is a specialist in infectious disease, and gastroenterology and hepatology. His research interests include influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and other respiratory virus antiviral treatment and vaccinology. Prof. Hung and his team have pioneered the use of topical imiquimod before intradermal influenza vaccination, which results in protection against heterologous non-vaccine and antigenically drifted viruses. His team was also the first to prove convalescent plasma and H-IVIG reduced mortality in patients with severe influenza infection in prospective clinical trials. Prof. Hung was awarded the Anti-SARS Gold Badge Award by the Hong Kong Hospital Authority in 2003 for his role in combating SARS as frontline medical officer. He obtained his medical degree from University of Bristol Medical School.