First mainland A/H1N1 patient leaves hospital

The first confirmed A/H1N1 flu patient in the Chinese mainland has fully recovered and left hospital. Liu Ming reports from Chengdu, in Southwestern China's Sichuan Province, where the man has been discharged from hospital after seven days of treatment in isolation.

Bao Xueyang, center, the first mainland swine flu patient is chased  by journalist as he walks out from the Chengdu Infectious Disease  Hospital after his eight day of quarantine and medical treatment  in Chengdu of southwest China's Sichuan on Sunday, May 17, 2009.  The mainland's first swine flu patient, a man surnamed Bao, was  discharged Sunday from the Chengdu Infectious Disease Hospital,  said a woman who answered the phone at the facility's outpatient  department who refused to give her name.

The Sichuan Provincial Government announced the departure of Mr. Bao from hospital on Sunday afternoon. No journalists were allowed to interview Bao when he left the Chengdu Municipal Infectious Hospital not long before the press conference.

Local officials say Bao was allowed out of hospital soon after he had got the approval from China ’s Ministry of Health.

Shen Ji, Director of Public Health Department of Sichuan province, said, "Bao's body temperature has been normal during the past three days, ranging from 36 to 36.5 degrees. And he has tested negative for three days in a row. His conditions have met the criteria of de-hospitalization set by China's Health Ministry."

Local authorities also announce that Bao's father and girlfriend have also left isolation and have got reunited with Bao.

Bao's departure from hospital marks initial success of local government in fighting against the A/H1N1 flu. No new cases of the flu or flu-like symptoms have yet been discovered so far in Chengdu. But local officials say they can never relax and are still gearing up for any new cases to emerge at any time.