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Thomas Eric Duncan |
Thomas Eric Duncan has been named as the man diagnosed with Ebola in the U.S.
He's not a U.S. citizen and lives in Liberia, but brought the virus into the US on a visit.
According to public health officials:
Duncan is in stable condition in a Dallas hospital. Duncan flew to America from Liberia via Belgium on a United Airlines flight.
He first landed in Washington
D.C. It is suspected that Duncan got Ebola on September 15th in Liberia
when he helped a neighbor, Marthalene Williams, get to the hospital in a
taxi. Marthalene who was seven months pregnant,
had ebola and was convulsing and vomiting. She later died at the 3:00
a.m. on September 20 at home after being turned away from the hospital
due to overcrowding.
It's reported that when she was being brought into the hospital, she was so weak Duncan had to carry her.
Two other people (not including Duncan) who came in contact with Williams contracted Ebola and died subsequently. One of those who died was Marthalene Williams's brother, identified as Sonny Boy.
He was in the taxi with Duncan and his sister. The Williams family were
Duncan's landlords, he rented a small room from them in Monrovia,
Liberia.
Duncan who wasn't shnowing any symptoms
at the time, arrived in the U.S. on September 20th, but began to feel
unwell on September 24th. By September 28, he was admitted to Texas
Presbyterian hospital, but was diagnosed with Ebola on September 30.
The Duncan claimed that he went to an ER in the Dallas area on September
26 but was sent home with antibiotics, because upon first assessment,
doctors felt that Duncan only had a "low-grade common viral disease.".
It was not until September 28 when he went to Texas Presbyterian that he
was admitted.
According to a statement from the Dallas Independent School district,
Duncan also came into contact with five children from four different
schools. The schools affected are Emmett J. Conrad High School (the high
school his son, Eric Duncan says he attended), Sam Tasby Middle School,
L.L.
Hotchkiss Elementary School and Dan D. Rogers Elementary. Those students are not exhibiting any symptoms but have been told to stay home from school as a precaution.
Dr. Christopher Perkins, from the Dallas Department of Health and Human Services,
told the media that there were five people staying at the same home as
Duncan. In total, Duncan is believed to have been in contact with 12-18
other people during his stay in the U.S.
Doctors have not been specific on how Duncan is being treated, just that
there is no more ZMapp available to them. Nigeria plans to send a team
of medical professionals to help the US.
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