The school teacher who fell ill some 40 km away from a bird flu infected area in central China's Hunan province was discharged from hospital Wednesday, local sources said Friday.

Song's condition has gradually returned to the normal since treatment, and most of the abnormality in his lung have disappeared, according to Zeng Jianping, Song's doctor.

The teacher surnamed Song, 36, lived in the same county where a nine-year-old boy was confirmed as one of China's first human cases. The boy's 12-year-old sister, who had died, was a suspected case due to insufficient evidence of laboratory tests.

Song fell ill after handling raw chicken, according to the hospital where he was hospitalized. A joint experts team from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Chinese Ministry of Health conducted field investigation in the Central Xiangtan Hospital, where Song was staying last week.

With all his blood tests showing negative for H5N1, Song was diagnosed as bacterial pneumonia. And the Ministry of Health has ruled out Song as a H5N1 case based on evidence.

The conclusion has also gained support from the WHO, according to its spokesman, Roy Wadia.

(Xinhua News Agency November 26, 2005)