Jiang Yanyong, a military surgeon who exposed Chinese officials to cover up the SARS epidemic in China in 2003, died of pneumonia at the age of 91.

While working at a hospital in Beijing in 2003, Yanyong sent a letter to Chinese state broadcasters exposing the Chinese authorities' lies after the Chinese health minister told the public that there were only cases of respiratory illness related to the SARS virus. While Yangong's letter, in which he announced that more than 100 people were infected with the SARS virus only in military hospital wards, was ignored by government agencies, while his statements were widely covered by foreign broadcasting organizations.

After Yanyong's statements, the Chinese government admitted that it gave false information to the public, and the World Health Organization (WHO) took action. While the spread of the virus was prevented by taking strict measures overnight, Yangong said after the events, "I felt that I had to tell what happened, not just to save China, but to save the world."

The SARS virus infected more than 8,000 people worldwide in 2003, and the World Health Organization announced 774 deaths.