VietNamNet Bridge – The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of central Khanh Hoa Province has announced the State’s decision to posthumously confer the “Honourary citizen of Vietnam” title on doctor Alexandre Yersin.

French scientist Alexandre Yersin (Source: Internet)

The announcement was made at a ceremony in Nha Trang city on September 22 to mark the doctor’s 151st birth anniversary.

Speaking at the event, Nguyen Thi The Tram, head of the club of Alexandre Yersin admirers, praised his great contributions to Vietnam in general and Nha Trang in particular, saying that he deserved a honourary citizen of Vietnam.

Born in Switzerland, Yersin (1863 - 1943) studied medicine at prestigious institutes in Switzerland, Germany and France. He came to Vietnam in 1891 and lived in Nha Trang City for more than half of a century. He was most remembered as the co-discoverer of the bacillus responsible for the bubonic plague in 1894.

He discovered Liang Biang Plateau, the site for Da Lat City, in 1893 and founded the Nha Trang Pasteur Institute in 1895.

He was also the founder of the Indochina Medicine School, which later became the Hanoi Medical University and the Hanoi University of Pharmacy.

VNA/VNN