Professor Anton Stoltz, a top infectious diseases expert, who had dedicated his time to the fight against Covid-19, died on Wednesday evening from complications arising from surgery.

Stoltz was the Head of the Division of Infectious Diseases in Internal Medicine at the University of Pretoria (UP).

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"We mourn the loss of this talented hero, who devoted his life to saving the lives of others," UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Tawana Kupe said.

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After completing his master's degree in biochemistry, which focused on malaria, he was selected to go to Belgium as a researcher to pioneer a new field in tuberculosis (TB).

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He was also involved in a major breakthrough in collaborative research with the University of Leicester in revolutionising the way TB is detected, through the invention and application of a 3D-printed insert added to simple face masks.