Dr. Katalin Solt (1922-2014)

She was born in Komárom, on 17 August 1922. She lost her parents in her childhood, therefore, his uncle, a village doctor, supported her as guardian.

Following the taking her final examination in 1940, she passed a two-year nursing course and worked at a hospital paediatric ward until 1946.

In autumn 1946, she enrolled at the Medical Faculty of Pázmány Péter University of Sciences where during her studies she worked first as a night nurse then as a health auxiliary, a so-called in-house medical student, for her board and lodging. She received her medical diploma at the Budapest University of Medicine in 1951. Between 1951 and 1954, she was employed as medical-captain at the 2nd Department of Internal Medicine in the Korvin Ottó Hospital for the Ministry of the Interior.

Between 1954 and 1958, commissioned by the Qualification Committee of Hungarian Academy of Sciences she was a foreign aspirant at the Department for Epidemiology of Faculty of Hygiene in the Sechenov First Moscow Medical College.

With her thesis entitled Oszobennosztyi epidemiologii epidemicseszkovo gepatita (boleznyi Botkina) v uszlovijah bolsovo goroda The epidemiological features for epidemic hepatitis (Botkin disease) in metropolitan circumstances - she earned a PhD degree in medicine, 1958.

She began to work at the Department of Epidemiology in the OKI on 12 May 1958. She was its Head of Department from 1975 to 30 June 1981, until her retirement. Then, between 1982 and 1996 she worked at the Department of Hospital Hygiene of Budapest KÖJÁL, later of the ÁNTSZ Budapest Institute.

In the beginning of her scientific work as a continuation for the topic of her thesis, she analysed the epidemiological features for infectious hepatitises in Hungary, highlighting the hepatitis outbreaks in the dialysis units of the country. In the 1970s, she participated in the exploration for the epidemiological features of the hepatitises with different aetiology and of the infectious diseases of the nervous system, respectively.

In the 1970s, she was the teams leader that studied the epidemiological characteristics for the ornithosis, infection of occupational origin, emerging first time in Hungary and elaborated its control methods. Their work provided a basis for the issuance of several decrees.

After the analyses for the efficiency of vaccines against pertussis, she took part in the elaboration of the Institutes proposals for the improvement of the immunization schemes.

Regarding the so-called quarantine diseases, she studied the epidemiological issues of smallpox in 1963 and cholera in 1970, and she researched the possibility for protection against both diseases.

Between 1967 and 1969, in collaboration with the members in the Smallpox Expert Committee she worked out the legally fixed bases for duties required in the event of a potential imported smallpox case that were successfully applied also during the smallpox outbreak in Yugoslavia, in year 1972.

In 1970, as the head of the work group established following the importation for cholera in Europe she dealt with the epidemiological measures related to cholera and took part also in the investigation of the suspected cholera cases.

In spring 1972, as the epidemiologist member for the Committee she participated in the majority of the field investigations required for the investigation of the suspected smallpox cases.

Her duties covered the preparation of weekly and monthly reports on the epidemiological situation in the country.

Her sphere of activity included the evaluation for the various chapters in the annual reports of the Stations of Public Health and Epidemiology and the technical field controls for their epidemiological work. She took these opportunities also for technical consultations.

Professor Dr. Ottó Rudnai, OKI Deputy Director-General, valued her activity as follows: She is one of the most qualified experts in the field of epidemiology in our country. She has acquired wide proficiency in the epidemiological work. She has got thorough knowledge on the field work, including the results and faultiness. And she has always tried to give assistance to eliminate the deficiencies. She has studied all details of the Departments internal work thoroughly and understood all matters there. Her routine work has been characterized by the accuracy in all details and her performance by zeal and great conscientiousness. Her discipline and reliability have been exemplary. She has developed a very good connection with her co-workers, and she has always been an understanding and helpful colleague. I consider her to be the Head of Department of Epidemiology in the National Institute for Public Health.

16 book chapters and 71 publications represent her scientific activity. Her technical expertise and literary work have been fostered by her continuous development of her English-language knowledge attained to hold polemical lectures in English - in addition to her high-level Russian knowledge. She also had a fairly good German-, Slovak- and Czech-language knowledge. Her expertise in foreign languages assisted not only her up-to-date literary review but also contributed to the success of her study-trips as she could be active at the international epidemiological meetings.

Her teaching activity was also significant. In addition to the Course for Medical Hygienists, she was the lecturer and examiner in epidemiology for the Public Health-Epidemiological Controller Section of Fodor József Health School. She also had a substantial role in the further education in epidemiology for the individual medical participants at the courses. She carefully elaborated her clear and enjoyable lectures which were liked by her audience.

Her professional work was recognized by the title Eminent Physician in 1965 and by the Silver Degree for Labour Award in 1975.

From 1959, she was member in the Commission for Epidemiology-Microbiology-Serum and Vaccine of the Scientific Council for Health (ETT). Following the unification of the Committee for the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) and the Ministry of Health (EüM), she became the member of the MTA-EüM Committee for Microbiology, Epidemiology and Vaccine and its Secretary from 1970 for many years. She was also the member of the EüM Smallpox Expert Committee from 1965.

Her attitude was chiefly characterized by zeal and honour. She was always ready to help her co-workers not only in official matters but also in their private ones.

During her life she was only interested in useful and sensible work aimed at the prevention of infectious diseases and the decrease of their incidence. At the beginning of her career, the various infections had occurred in much higher number than when she finished her career, 50-60 years later.  She had undying merits in this achievement.

Therefore, in the field of Hungarian epidemiology she deserved to be amid the OEK Outstanding Scientists following the examples of Aladár Petrilla and Ottó Rudnai.