The man who brought Ebola to the United States from West Africa 18 days ago has died in a Dallas hospital.
Thomas
Eric Duncan, whose health took a grave turn for the worse this weekend,
succumbed to the virus at 7.51am today at Texas Health Presbyterian
Hospital, officials announced late this morning.
The
42-year-old Liberian national exposed nearly 50 people to the disease
in America, including his fiancée Louise Troh and two of her children.
They remain quarantined and under constant monitoring by health
officials over fears that they, too, could develop symptoms during a
21-day incubation period.
His body, which still carries the virus, must now be disposed of in a way that will not put anyone else at risk.
Ms
Troh released a statement saying: 'His suffering is over. My family is
in deep sadness and grief, but we leave him in the hands of God... Eric
was a wonderful man who showed compassion toward all.'
Coming to America: Duncan, seen here
with a female relative shortly after landing at Dallas-Fort Worth
International Airport, traveled to the US to marry his longtime love
Louise Troh
'Love of
his life': Thomas Eric Duncan (right) apologized to his fiancée Louise
Troh (left) when he was diagnosed with Ebola, a family friend says
She
also hinted that she is not satisfied with the care he received. When
Duncan first went to Texas Presbyterian, he was sent home with just a
prescription for antibiotics.
'I
trust a thorough examination will take place regarding all aspects of
his care. I am now dealing with the sorrow and anger that his son was
not able to see him before he died. This will take some time, but in the
end, I believe in a merciful God,' she said.
Duncan's
Ebola case drew widespread American attention to the West African
epidemic that continues to spread like wildfire through Liberia, Sierra
Leone and Guinea - three of the poorest nations in the world. More than
3,400 people have died from the virus and more than 7,500 have been
infected.
Duncan
landed in Dallas on September 20 after traveling from his home in
Monrovia, Liberia. He is accused of lying to airport screeners about his
contact with Ebola patients, though his family and friends say he had
no idea he had been infected.
He
came to America in the hopes of marrying Ms Troh after rekindling his
relationship with her after more than a decade apart. He was also hoping
to meet his 19-year-old son Karsiah, a college student in Texas whom he
had not seen since the boy was three. The father and son were never
reunited before Duncan's death.
Duncan
developed symptoms of the disease on September 24. He went to the
hospital the next day - only to be given antibiotics and sent home by
doctors. For three more days, he suffered with Ebola in Ms Troh's Dallas
apartment, potentially exposing her and her family to the disease.
On September 28, four days later after he became contagious, he was rushed back to Texas Presbyterian and admitted.
On
Monday doctors began Giving Duncan the experimental antiviral drug
brincidovir in the hopes that it could save his life, but he showed few
signs of improvement.
His family said on Tuesday that he was medically sedated and unresponsive when they tried to visit him at the hospital.
Never reunited:
Thomas Eric Duncan was hoping to see his 19-year-old son Karsiah Duncan
again, though he never got the chance. Duncan was medically sedated and
unresponsive by the time Karsiah come to see his father in the hospital
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital
initially sent Duncan home when he showed up in the emergency room. He
returned three days later with full-blown symptoms of the disease
Following
Duncan's death, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital issued a statement
that read: 'It is with profound sadness and heartfelt disappointment
that we must inform you of the death of Thomas Eric Duncan this morning
at 7.51am. Mr. Duncan succumbed to an insidious disease, Ebola.
'He
fought courageously in this battle. Our professionals, the doctors and
nurses in the unit, as well as the entire Texas Health Presbyterian
Hospital Dallas community, are also grieving his passing. We have
offered the family our support and condolences at this difficult time.'
Texas
health officials must now dispose of Duncan's body, which still harbors
the disease. Ebola spreads by having contact with the bodily fluids of
an infected patient. Even getting sweat or blood on the skin can cause
an infection.
Guidance that
the Centers for Disease Control issued to hospitals on the disposal of
dead Ebola patients calls for Duncan's body to be immediately wrapped in
a plastic shroud and zipped up in two leak-proof body bags - with his
medical lines and tubes still attached.
His
remains will then be shipped to the Dallas County morgue, where his
body will either be cremated or buried in a hermetically-sealed casket.
Officials recommend no autopsy or embalming, for fear that unnecessary contact with the remains could spread the infection.
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings issued a statement saying he was 'deeply saddened' to learn of Duncan's death.
Cleanup crew: Professional cleaners
were called in to sanitize the Dallas apartment where Thomas Eric Duncan
stayed before being admitted to the hospital. His soiled sheets and
towels remained in the apartment for five days after he was hospitalized
Mourning: Nowai Korkoya, Dunan's
mother, arrived in Dallas from her home in North Carolina on Tuesday. By
the time she went to the hospital, her son was unresponsive
'On
behalf of the city of Dallas, I extend our deepest sympathies to the
family and friends of Mr. Duncan. I remain confident in the abilities of
our health care professionals and the medical advances here in the U.S.
and reassure you we will stop the Ebola virus in its tracts from
spreading into our community.
I would have preferred to stay in Liberia and died than bring this disease to you.
Thomas Eric Duncan, to his fiancée Louise Troh
'I
want to reinforce to the public, that this was an isolated incident of
the Ebola virus; contracted by the individual while residing in another
country. This is sad news for all involved. We will continue to work in
partnership with Dallas County to do everything possible to protect our
public health and all of the City of Dallas.'
Dallas
County Judge Clay Jenkins, who has helped coordinate the local response
to the disease outbreak offered his condolences, saying: 'My thoughts
are with the family and friends of Thomas Eric Duncan at this time,
especially his fiancée Louise, their son Karsiah and all those who loved
him.'
Thomas
Eric Duncan apologized to his fiancée after doctors told him he had the
deadly disease and told her he would have rather died in Liberia than
put her at risk, a family friend has said.
'He
apologized to Louise the day they told him what he had. He told her,
"I’m so sorry all of this is happening. I would not put the love of my
life in danger,'" Saymendy Lloyd told the Washington Post.
Duncan's
family are now saying that he had no idea he had been exposed to Ebola
when he boarded a plane in Liberia, bound for the United States.
It
has been previously reported that Duncan helped care for a pregnant
woman who later died of the disease in Monrovia, Liberia. However, he ha
told those close to him that he thought she was suffering complications
from the pregnancy and had no idea she was infected with Ebola.
Duncan
told Louise Troh, whom he came to the United States to marry, that he
'would have preferred to stay in Liberia and died than bring this
disease to you,' Mr Lloyd told the Post.
Liberia
authorities have accused Duncan of lying on an airport screening form
before flying out of Monrovia last month and claiming he had no contact
with Ebola victims. The Dallas County prosecutor also announced this
week Duncan could face criminal charges if he knew he had Ebola and
exposed people to the disease anyway.
Ten
people, including seven healthcare workers and three family members,
are considered at high risk for Ebola after they were exposed to Duncan
after he became contagious. Another 38 more are being monitors by the
CDC for possible risk of the disease.
Duncan's
fiance Louise Troh, who is perhaps highest at risk of catching the
disease after she cared for him at her Dallas apartment while he sweated
and vomited through the early staged of the disease, says she does not
blame him for possibly exposing her.
She
told WFAA-TV on Tuesday, before Duncan's death, that she just wanted
him to get better so that he can return to her. The couple, who met in a
refugee camp in the Ivory Coast, have a 19-year-old son Karsiah
together who is currently in college.
'I'm
just praying to God that he gets better. He's a generous guy, and I'm
just so sad. He just come to America and just get so sick, and just went
down just in a second,' she told the TV station.
'I
feel so sad. I'm confused, and really disturbed. I don't know. I'm just
praying to God so he can wake up and for him to be able to see his
children and be able to come back to his family.'
Karsiah
Duncan, a student at Angelo State University, arrived in Dallas to
visit his father for the first time on Tuesday, but by then Duncan was
unresponsive.
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