KUALA LUMPUR: A 40-year-old man, the fourth case of novel coronavirus in Malaysia, has recovered from the illness and discharged today, Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said.
This, he said was after the third test result conducted on the man, warded at the Permai Hospital in Johor Baru, came back negative.
Dr Noor Hisham, who posted the statement on his social media account today, said the man was discharged at 7.15pm.
The Wuhan local was the second case of patient recovering from coronavirus in the country.
He added that the first and second test conducted on the patient were also negative.
“The laboratory tests proved the man had been fully cured of the virus after being treated with anti-viral medicines.
“The fourth case of the coronavirus was hospitalised on Jan 24 with symptoms of high fever and pneumonia. His condition worsened on the second day at the Permai Hospital isolation ward in Johor Baru, requiring oxygen assistance.
“Chest X-ray examination on day four showed signs of increased infection. He was treated with the antiviral drug Kaletra (off-label use) on Jan 28.
“After 8 days of treatment, the patient’s condition improved and was completely healed. The patient was allowed to return home this afternoon,” he said.
A four-year-old girl from China who tested positive for the virus was the first to be cured in the country.