The winner of the2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicineare Harvey J. Alter , Michael Houghton , and Charles M. Rice for the find of the Hepatitis C computer virus . The prize is worth 10 mebibyte Swedish krona ( about $ 1,125,000 ) , which will be portion out among the winners . The virus causes liver disease , which can lead to liver Crab .
An estimated71 million peoplein the universe live with a chronic hepatitis C virus infection . However , identifying the existence of the virus take decades . scientist only became aware of its existence after the uncovering of Hepatitis A and B and the run developed to recognize these pathogens in the bloodstream . At the clock time , the mysterious third illness was called “ non - A , non - B ” hepatitis .
Houghton and his two confrere Qui - Lim Choo and George Kuo finally discovered the computer virus in 1987 while working for the pharmaceutic business firm Chiron . Alter confirmed the presence of the virus in 1988 and the full discovery was announced in 1989 in the daybook Science . The last piece of the puzzler came when Rice and his squad demonstrated in the late 90s that this virus does indeed cause hepatitis .
“ The laureate ’s accomplishment provided the base that was needed to now start combating the bed covering of the virus . ” the prize committee said in thepress declaration . “ Thanks to the effective blood screening programs the hepatitis C virus is now almost annihilate in many parts of the world and the development of highly efficacious antiviral drugs means that more than 95 percent of treated patient role can be cured from the contagion . These development have save billion of lives worldwide . Continued efforts to implement roue screening programme and treatment globally erect hopes that a hepatitis C computer virus can be controlled , and finally eliminated ”
This year ’s pillage may raise disputation . In 2013 , Houghtonturned downthe Canada Gairdner International Award , because the awarding did n’t honour the virus cobalt - discoverers Choo and Kuo . In the closet conference , Professor Thomas Perlmann , the secretary - general of the Nobel Assembly , tell that he was only able to share the intelligence with Professor Alter and Rice . Whether Houghton accepts this prize or not , the public debate continues if the maximum limit of three winners should continue . For years , people have been argue how theprize should be expand to teamssince most of skill is done collaboratively .
