Update | South Korean man who sparked Mers health scare in China discharged from hospital
The man, 44 - identified only by his surname, Kim, who entered mainland in May via Hong Kong - leaves Guangdong hospital after treatment that reportedly cost HK$10 million
The South Korean man who sparked a health scare after entering China via Hong Kong in May while suffering from the Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers) was discharged from hospital on Friday morning, mainland media says.
The man, 44 – identified only by his surname, Kim and wearing a surgical mask – emerged from his ward at the hospital in Huizhou, Guangdong province, accompanied by three medics and surrounded by scores of local journalists, Southern Metropolis Daily reported.
Kim had tested negative for the Mers virus in both his past two tests – the last time on Thursday.
He had also been free of any signs of fever, one of the symptoms of the virus, for more than 10 days, the National Health and Family Planning Commission said.
Therefore experts decided that Kim had met all the requirements for being discharged.
The commission added that Kim would be returning to South Korea on Friday.
READ MORE: Mers virus spread by ‘doctor shopping’ in South Korea, Hong Kong expert says
The Huizhou government has reportedly spent at least eight million yuan (HK$10 million) on Kim’s medical treatment.
The newspaper quoted Kim saying that he had been spent all his time during the past month in “bed No 14”, attended by hospital staff, and had seen no one else.
“This is a hospital that I will never forget for the rest of my life,” Kim said in a statement.
“Everyday, from the time I woke up in the morning until I went to bed, the medical staff have been there by my side, taking care of me.”
A South Korean deputy consul-general from Guangzhou was also at the hospital to accompany Kim as he left.
Kim was admitted to the Huizhou hospital on May 28, having travelled to the mainland via Hong Kong.
He was China’s first case of the deadly Mers disease – initially identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012 – which has killed at least 31 people after a recent outbreak in South Korea.
Up to 13 doctors and more than 50 nurses had been treating Kim.
A further 25 experts have consulted during his illness, including Zhong Nanshan, who exposed the government cover-up of severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2003.
The Guangzhou Daily has previously reported that local authorities have spent at least eight million yuan on treating Kim.
All 75 people who had come into close contact with him on the mainland have also been discharged after their quarantine periods.
China’s main health authority said earlier this month that the risk of cases of Mers spreading to the country had increased significantly and urged people travelling to South Korea or the Middle East to be vigilant about the potential health risks. But it did not issue any travel warnings regarding South Korea.
