About Bert Achong
Lived 1928 – 1996 (aged 67). Bert Achong was an oncologist and virologist, known for Epstein–Barr virus.
Bert Geoffrey Achong (6 December 1928 – 20 November 1996) was a Trinidadian-born pathologist known for co-discovering the Epstein–Barr virus through use of electron microscopy.
Career Achong was born in Trinidad and Tobago and was of Chinese descent. After excelling in school in Trinidad and Tobago, he was awarded the Jerningham Gold Medal and the Colonial Scholarship to study in Europe.
He moved to Europe at 18 He died of a brain tumour in 1996. They published the discovery of the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) in The Lancet on 28 March 1964.
Achong's role in the discovery of EBV was to prepare and examine cultured cells prepared from Burkitt lymphoma samples by electron microscopy.
Foamy virus In 1971 Achong made another major discovery, the human foamy virus. This was proved to be the first example of a retrovirus naturally infecting humans.
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Important facts
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Bert Achong?
Trinidad scientist (1928-1996)
When was Bert Achong born?
Bert Achong was born on 6 December 1928 in Port of Spain.
When did Bert Achong die?
Bert Achong died on 20 November 1996 in Hampstead.
What was Bert Achong's occupation?
Bert Achong was an oncologist and virologist.
What was Bert Achong known for?
Bert Achong was known for Epstein–Barr virus.
What nationality was Bert Achong?
Bert Achong's recorded nationality: Trinidad and Tobago.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Bert Achong. https://biography.guide/bert-achong/
MLA: "Bert Achong." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/bert-achong/.
Chicago: "Bert Achong." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/bert-achong/.
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