A man who came to Meiktila District Hospital as he was coughing after returning from China, ran away while authorities were preparing to transfer him to Mandalay Hospital, said an official from Meiktila Hospital. 

"He took an X-ray outside. He saw a specialist. We don't mean he is virus positive. But it was a coincidence. We said he must be on the list of suspected cases because he returned from China and he is coughing. There is an instruction that we have to immediately transfer such patients to Mandalay Hospital. As we had a little doubt, we planned to transfer him," said the official. 

The mother of the man said his son returned in January from China where he was working. He might have run away fearing that hospitalization cost him much. 

"We don't want to be admitted to hospital. We have no money. Although they (hospitals) bear the expense partially, we know because we used to be hospitalized. Only if we have our own money, everything including meal will be OK. My son used to suffer from TB. This month, he returned from China via Hsinphyudaw border gate. 

The 42-year-old man ran away after tearing up some of his medical documents while authorities was planning to transfer him to Mandalay District People's Hospital on the night of January 30. Some of his symptoms conform to the instructions laid down by the Public Health Department.