A 27 year-old Singapore lab researcher who tested positive for the SARS virus has recovered and been discharged from hospital.

The man, a post-doctoral student studying at the National University of Singapore, was the world’s first known positive SARS diagnosis to be made since the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the virus to be under control in July 2003.

Singapore’s health ministry moved quickly to allay fears when the initial SARS positive diagnosis was made, although admitted they did not know how the man had contracted the virus.

Experts from the US Centre for Disease Control and the WHO are continuing to study how the man caught the virus. He was discharged from hospital on 16 September.