What happened to Mary-Louise McLaws? The famous epidemiologist has been confirmed dead at age 70. How she died and her fortune explored.
Mary-Louise McLaws was a medical doctor and a professor.
McLaws guided Australians through the Covid crisis. She was the calming voice for many Australians after guiding the nation through the Covid-19 pandemic from 2020.
On August 2023, the world learned about her death and following that, questions about what she died of and how much she was worth seems to need answers. Read on for more.
What was Mary-Louise McLaws’ cause of death?
Renowned epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws has died at the age of 70 following her battle with brain cancer.
McLaws was the calming voice for many Australians after guiding the nation through the Covid-19 pandemic from 2020.
Her husband Richard Flook said she died in her sleep on Saturday night, 19 months after she announced her diagnosis with the long-term illness in January last year.
Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Flook said: “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.
“We will be planning her funeral service at Emanuel Synagogue in the next few days.”
Following the news that she had been diagnosed with a brain tumour last year, there was an outpouring of tributes for the 70-year-old as she began a long road of recovery.
Federal health minister, Mark Butler, told ABC Radio her death came as “such sad news”.
The president of the Australian Medical Association, Prof Steve Robson, called McLaws’ death “a terrible loss for the country”.
And Dr Susannah Eliott, CEO of the Australian Science Media Centre, described her as “truly brilliant”.
She said: “She had a skill for connecting with people through her boundless empathy and genuine willingness to help – she was a truly brilliant science communicator.
“She was also incredibly modest, asking for feedback on her interviews and open to suggestions on how she could improve.
“On a personal note, I once asked her if she would help my son with his research project on antibiotic resistance, thinking she might answer a couple of emailed questions.
“She told him to visit her at UNSW and spent over an hour with him and helped inspire him to study science after high school.”
What was Mary-Louise McLaws’ net worth? She had an impressive career
For her long years as a medical practitioner, Mary-Louise McLaws had an estimated net worth of at least $1 million before her death. She accrued her fortune from her work as an epidemiologists who examine patterns of disease among people to determine how best to deliver public health services and combat biological threats.
McLaws was a highly respected professional who served as World Health Organisation (WHO) adviser to China and helped with infection-control research in nine countries across Asia and Africa.
She was a professor of epidemiology at the University of New South Wales and earned plaudits for her role as director of the Public Health Unit for the Sydney South West Area Health Service.
Throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, McLaws became a natural go-to for citizen’s as a result of her knowledge and advice on how to stay safe, while she was one of the first experts to push for protection by face masks.
She was also awarded an Order of Australia for her service to epidemiology, infection prevention and health administration in last year’s Queen’s birthday honours.