Ebola Patient First To Be Diagnosed In U.S. Dies, Possible 2nd Texas Patient Exposed To Deceased In Hospital, Threat Of Airborne Ebola Scare After Spanish Nurse Contracts Virus?
(Atlanta) -- Thomas Eric Duncan, the first U.S. patient to be diagnosed with Ebola has died, according to a hospital in Texas. Eric Duncan traveled to the U.S. from Liberia, died Wednesday morning. The man, 42, was the first to be found with the Ebola virus. According to reports, Duncan had flown to the U.S. to stay with his family members. In a breaking story, a possible second Ebola patient who may have contact with Duncan, has been reportedly taken to the hospital after complaining of symptoms.
Duncan died at 7:51 a.m. at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, more than a week after the virus was detected in him on Sept. 30. said a report.
"It is with profound sadness and heartfelt disappointment that we must inform you of the death of Thomas Eric Duncan this morning at 7:51 a.m.," said Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital's Facebook webpage. The Hospital statement added, "Mr. Duncan succumbed to an insidious disease, Ebola. He fought courageously in this battle," Times reported.
The New York Times provided a detailed summary of the event: "Mr. Duncan died at 7:51 a.m. at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, more than a week after the virus was detected in him on Sept. 30. His condition had worsened in recent days to critical from serious as medical personnel worked to support his fluid and electrolyte levels, crucial to recovery in a disease that causes bleeding, vomiting, and diarrhea."
The report continued to say, "Mr. Duncan was also treated with an experimental antiviral drug, brincidofovir, after the Food and Drug Administration approved its use on an emergency basis.
The Virus has now claimed the lives of mostly Liberians, people in Guinea and Sierra Leone.
Ebola patients treated outside West Africa include at least 14 cases, according to the media.
Despite CDC's call to stay calm amid the epidemic, U.S. health professionals are concerned about contracting the virus, after a Spanish nurse died while treating a patient in Madrid. The news from Spain has escalated woes that Ebola could mutate and become airborne, making it easier to catch.
