Professor Mary-Louise McLaws, an epidemiologist who became a key figure during the Covid-19 pandemic, has died from brain cancer, aged 70. Image source: Facebook
Professor Mary-Louise McLaws, an epidemiologist who became a key figure during Australia’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, has died from brain cancer, aged 70.
McLaws passed in her sleep on Saturday night, according to a statement Richard Flook made to the Sydney Morning Herald.
“She had been so well cared for by the nurses and doctors at Wolper Hospital in Woollahra and had enjoyed the visits of her many friends who have been so supportive of her and our family,” said Flook in his statement.
“We will be planning her funeral service at Emanuel Synagogue in the next few days.”
Mary-Louise McLaws was born in Tasmania on March 17, 1953.
Raised by her Jewish mother, she and her brother were brought to Bondi in Sydney, with McLaws finishing her schooling on the NSW central coast.
McLaws became a professor of epidemiology at the University of New South Wales, a NSW clinical excellence commission’s Covid infection prevention and control taskforce member, as well as an independent advisor to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) health emergencies program for Covid-19 infection and control
Across her career, McLaws also served as WHO adviser to China, and had assisted infection-control research across Asia and the Middle East.
During the first two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, she became well known for communicating important health information about infection control, assisting journalists with their understanding of epidemiology.
At last year’s Queen’s birthday honours, she was awarded an Order of Australia for her service to epidemiology, infection prevention and health administration as part of a special Covid-19 honour roll.
In January 2022, she was diagnosed with brain cancer.
In the wake of her diagnosis, she began moving away from public life to spend more time with her family.
After a severe headache Thursday, I was diagnosed with a brain tumour. I will now be on a month’s sick leave from UNSW and WHO. Thank you media for helping me spread knowledge. Now it is time with my family.
Best wishes to you all.— Mary-Louise McLaws (@MarylouiseMcla1) January 15, 2022
On ABC Radio Minister, Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler said McLaws’ death was “such sad news”.
Hers was an incredibly calm, articulate voice at a time that was very frightening to Australians,” said Butler.
“To hear her on programs like yours, to see her on TV outline in a very calm but authoritative and articulate way, the best way we could protect ourselves was a source of great reassurance to the Australian people.
“But it was only a small part of a lifelong career she gave in epidemiology and infectious diseases, particularly in NSW in areas like HIV and viral hepatitis.”
Mary-Louise McLaws is survived by her husband, Richard, and her two children, Zia and Zachary.
