Thomas Eric Dunca, the first patient diagnosed with Ebola virus in the United States, died Wednesday morning, according to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.
The hospital released this statement.
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 am. 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.
Duncan, showed up at the Dallas hospital on Sept. 25 with a temperature of 100.1 degrees. He told the nurse he had recently traveled to the United States from Liberia, the hospital has acknowledged, but he was sent home with antibiotics when he would have been most contagious.
Duncan has been insolation at the hospital since Sept. 28. and had been given an experimental drug.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins released the following statement:
"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. We are also thinking of the dedicated hospital staff who assisted Mr. Duncan daily while he fought this terrible disease. We offer prayers of comfort and peace to everyone impacted by his passing."
The Centers for Disease Control has guidance for how to safely handle the remains of someone who dies as a result of Ebola. The body of someone who died of Ebola remains dangerous. The virus can live in bodily fluids and tissue so long as they stay wet and at room temperature..
Any hospital employees who hande the body of someone who died of Ebola must wear personal protective equipment, including a scrub suit, cap, gown over the suit, eye protection, face mask and more. They must remove their protective equipement in the prescribed manner and wash their hands very carefully.
Guidelines state that the body must be wrapped in multiple leak-proof plastic bags and disinfected.
The body must be cremated or immediately buried in a sealed casket. Mortuary personnel must take the same precautions as hospital personnel.
