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Spencer Leaves Hospital, U.S. Now Ebola-Free

Tina Susman

11/11/2014

Nov. 11--REPORTING FROM NEW YORK -- Dr. Craig Spencer, whose Ebola diagnosis fueled fears of the virus' spread in New York City and prompted the state to mandate quarantines for some travelers, was released from a hospital Tuesday after recovering from the disease.

"Dr. Spencer is Ebola-free and New York City is Ebola-free," Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference.

Spencer's successful treatment leaves the country officially Ebola-free. Late Monday, a Maine nurse, Kaci Hickox, ended a mandatory 21-day quarantine without showing symptoms of the often lethal virus.

"Thank you so much. Thank you so much," Spencer, appearing pale but smiling broadly, said as he hugged the mayor.

"Dr. Spencer showed us what it means to help your fellow humans," said De Blasio. "It's a very, very good day."

Applause erupted in the Bellevue Hospital atrium as nearly 30 nurses and other medical staff who treated Spencer walked into the hall shortly before Spencer's arrival.

"Today is proof that proper preparedness and erring on the side of caution can save lives," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. "On behalf of all New Yorkers, I am greatly relieved to hear of Dr. Spencer's recovery and thank him for his important and heroic work on the front lines of this devastating epidemic in West Africa."

Spencer, 33, had been in Guinea working with the aid group Doctors Without Borders. More than 10,000 people in West Africa have been afflicted with Ebola and nearly 5,000 have died.

He had been hospitalized at Bellevue Hospital Center in Manhattan since Oct. 23, when he reported a fever of 100.3 to public health officials and was rushed by ambulance from his upper Manhattan apartment. Spencer had returned to New York from Guinea a few days earlier.

Nine people have been treated for Ebola in this country. One has died: Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian who was hospitalized on Sept. 28 at Dallas' Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. Duncan died on Oct. 8.