Medical epidemiologist who was crucial in combating SARS in
Asia. She was born on July 9, 1948, in Warrigul, Victoria,
Australia, and died in Jakarta, Indonesia, on March 27, 2007,
from acute pancreatitis, aged 58 years. Aileen Plant was a woman
who gave herself unstintingly to the cause of better public
health. In a career that took her to Vietnam during the SARS
crisis and to many other disease outbreaks, she won the love of
colleagues who admired her compassion, diplomacy, and analytical
intellect. “A more dedicated public health worker cannot be
found”, said David Heymann, Assistant Director-General,
Communicable Diseases of WHO. “Aileen had everything necessary,
and in abundance—knowledge, skills, experience, humility—and a
driving compassion for the plight of others.” Heymann said he
had talked with Plant on the morning before her sudden death at
Jakarta airport. “We discussed the work we had done together in
the past—and our plans for the future”, he said. “Her plans were
simple—to continue to serve in