Thailand's first MERS patient cured

BANGKOK - Thailand's first and so far only confirmed patient infected with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) has fully recovered, the National News Bureau of Thailand said Friday.

The patient, a 75-year-old man from Oman, will be discharged within the day from Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute in central Nonthaburi province, where he has been treated in isolation.

The patient arrived at Bangkok on June 15 to have his heart condition treated, only to be found later to have contracted the virus.

Doctors reportedly said that lab tests had confirmed the patient's full recovery, with improvement also made in his heart problem.

The Thai health authorities have found no new MERS infection while monitoring or quarantining dozens of people who once had contact with the patient.

The institute has allowed the patient and three of his family members to go home, and they are expected to board a flight back to Oman late this evening.