Photo Credit: Grafixar/ www.morguefile.com

It’s a happy day for Dr. Craig Spencer. He has been declared Ebola free by health officials and released from Bellevue hospital. Dr. Spencer tested positive for Ebola three weeks ago, when he returned to New York City after treating patients in Guinea.

During a news conference alongside Mayor Bill de Blasio , city officials, and medical staff, Dr. Spencer expressed his happiness and relief. ” Today I am healthy and no longer infectious” he said. Dr. Spencer then humbly redirected the attention away from himself and focused on the ongoing spread of the virus in certain sectors of Africa. He stated “Please join me in returning our attention back to West Africa.” Mr. de Blasio gave Spencer a hug and thanked him for putting his life at risk for the sake of helping others.  “Dr. Spencer is Ebola free and New York City is Ebola free. It is a good feeling to hug a hero,” Mr. de Blasio said. “And we have a hero in our midst.”

Dr. Spencer declined to reveal his future plans in detail and asked that his privacy be respected. Although his recovery was successful, medical officials stated that this does not mean we are in the clear. Sophie Delaunay, the executive director of Doctors Without Borders  said “We must not let our guard down. Complacency, false security and, above all, fear are Ebola’s greatest allies.”

To date, no one else in the city has tested positive for the virus.