Ebola-free Dr. Craig Spencer released from Bellevue Hospital

NEW YORK -- An emergency room doctor who was the first Ebola patient in the nation's biggest city has been released from a New York City hospital and thanked the medical workers who treated him.

Dr. Craig Spencer was released from Bellevue Hospital on Tuesday at a joyous news conference where medical team members were cheering and hooting. It happened 19 days after he was diagnosed with the virus.

He said he's a living example for how medical protocols can work to stop the disease from spreading. Walking out of Bellevue, he was also able to say, "Today I am healthy, and no longer infectious."

He received an affectionate sendoff from the many Bellevue health care workers who saw to his extensive medical care over 19 days.

"I have received an exceptional level of medical treatment, support and encouragement from the whole medical and administrative team," said Dr. Spencer.

He knew the dangers they faced, as Dr. Spencer had seen first-hand treating Ebola patients in Guinea. But testing positive, he didn't focus on his own diagnosis.

"He instead put an active part in all of his treatment decisions. He's a brave and caring doctor with a great sense of humor, which helped enormously in his recovery," said Dr. Laura Evans.

While Mayor Bill de Blasio called Dr. Spencer a hero, some on social media tweeted, "Very happy he's well, but how is a hero? Ran around NYC possibly infecting people?".

Another tweet said, "Hero? What did he do besides potentially spreading a deadly disease he exposed himself to?"

Dr. Spencer defended his following of medical protocols. "I am a living example of how those protocols work, and how early detection and isolation is critical to both surviving Ebola and ensuring that it is not transmitted to others," he said.

He also said the public should remain focused on the source of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The physician had been working with Doctors Without Borders.

Mayor de Blasio and his wife both hugged the 33-year-old doctor.

The city Department of Health said Monday in a statement that Spencer, who was the only Ebola patient being treated in the United States, "has been declared free of the virus."

"I think he'll go home, I think that's a good location," de Blasio said.

De Blasio called Spencer "a real hero." "He's suffered a lot these last few weeks, but he's come back really strong," he said.

It's been two and a half weeks in isolation for Spencer who spiked a fever and wound up at Bellevue Hospital Oct. 23, nearly two weeks after volunteering to treat the sick, in Ebola ravaged Guinea.

The appearance of Ebola in the Big Apple set off an urgent effort by city officials to retrace his steps, in a West Village restaurant, in a Williamsburg bowling alley, all while trying to keep the public calm.

"It's been a very sobering time there's no question," de Blasio said. "What I learned was just how important it is to keep telling people it's going to be OK."

And in the end, it was. Doctors said Spencer poses zero public health threat.

Meanwhile, Spencer's fianc Morgan Dixon has now been taken off quarantine, according to the health department.

She will be monitored through the end of the week. There is now no longer anyone associated with Spencer under quarantine. Dixon and Spencer are now free to leave the apartment.

None of the doctors or nurses treating Spencer have shown any symptoms.

(Some information from the Associated Press)