Professor Marcello Piazza, a world-famous infectious disease specialist, died last night in his home in Naples.
He would have turned 87 in a few days and had been weakened by various pathologies for some time. For decades he held the chair of infectious diseases at the Federico II University of Naples. He was among the first AIDS researchers in Italy and opened one of the first centers in Naples for assistance to patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
He was the first to identify the possibility of AIDS contagion through small saliva particles in contact with microlesions in the mouth and was therefore the protagonist of a heated controversy with Professor Ferdinando Aiuti.
His name is however linked to studies on hepatitis. He is responsible for the first experiments and the first protocol for vaccination against hepatitis B, which then gave rise to the law on compulsory vaccination against hepatitis B that bears his name and that has saved many lives in Italy and has subsequently been copied in similar measures in many other countries.
He was the doctor of the footballers of Ferlaino's Napoli team that won two championships. He became known among the fans for having saved the life of the Brazilian footballer Alemao, who at the time wore the blue jersey, whom he diagnosed in time with fulminant hepatitis.
Article published on 6 September 2022 - 17:46
Video Chronicles
