The first patient in Florida with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome infection has been discharged from the hospital in Orange County, health officials announced Monday.
The 44-year-old patient, a health care worker from Saudi Arabia who flew into Orlando earlier this month, has recovered from the MERS virus, officials said.
All health care workers and household contacts that had contact with the patient were tested for MERS. All of those tests have come back negative.
There is no broad risk of MERS infection for the general public, and no threat to those traveling to the Orlando area, health officials said.
MERS is a respiratory illness that begins with flu-like fever and cough but can lead to shortness of breath, pneumonia and death. One-third of those who develop symptoms die from it.
Health officials said the patient was visiting family in Orlando. They said the man became sick while flying to the U.S. The trip included stops in London, Boston and Atlanta before arriving in Orlando May 1.
He was in Orlando almost a week before going to Dr. P. Phillips Hospital to be treated. While he was in Central Florida, they said he did not leave his family's house and did not visit any theme parks or attractions.