One of China's leading experts specializing in respiratory diseases says the public needs not to worry about the spreading of the deadly MERS virus at the time being.

Zhong Nanshan (2nd left), a doctor specializing in respiratory diseases, discusses treatment options with other medical experts in Huizhou, south China's Guangdong province on Tuesday, June 2, 2015. [Photo: xkb.com.cn]

The expert made the remarks after paying a visit to the hospital where China's first MERS patient is being treated.

Zhong Nanshan is a doctor specializing in respiratory diseases, who earned international fame during the struggle against the deadly SARS epidemic in 2003.

Along with other medical experts, Zhong visited Huizhou Municipal Central hospital on Tuesday and entered into the intensive care unit housing the first MERS patient in China.

Zhong says he is impressed by measures taken by the hospital. All nearby rooms to the ICU have been emptied so as to reduce the risk of virus transmission.

"As we have adopted such strict quarantine measures, MERS cannot be spread through air, it cannot even be spread in hospitals. I think we have done well in the quarantine work. We have isolated spaces and pay attention to cross infection. So we should not worry about its spread."

China reported its first MERS patient on Friday in south China's Guangdong Province. The patient is a man from South Korea.

Zhong also discussed treatment options and found that the patient's condition was stable, but at a low level.

"His lung infection became a little worse in the past two days. But his clinical situation turned better today. I think that's a stable condition at a low level, a little better. Why we are so cautious to say this? Because we know little about MERS in China and this disease fluctuates sometimes. So we'll see what happens."

The expert noted that compared to China's early response to SARS in 2003, the country has made great progress in precautions and quarantine measures.

The health authorities issued a manual on MERS for health departments and hospitals.

The manual contains a detailed introduction on the epidemiological history of MERS, its symptoms, laboratory testing, preventative measures, and treatment and care.

According to a statement from the health department, control measures at hospitals will be heightened and patients complaining of fever will be screened.

It has also promised to keep the public stay well informed and give timely warnings.

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