Thomas Eric Duncan born in Liberia
Thomas Eric Duncan is born in Monrovia, Liberia to Nowai Korkoya. He has one sister, Mai.
Tested in Liberia
Duncan is tested at Roberts International Airport, 35 miles east of Monrovia before boarding his flight to the U.S. via Belgium. He does not have high fever, sweating, vomiting or weakness. Jay Nagbe Sloh, the director-general of the state-run Liberia News Agency:
He showed no Ebola signs.
Travels to U.S. via Belgium
Duncan leaves Liberia for the U.S. He boards an SN Brussels Airlines flight to Brussels. He then boards United Airlines Flight 951 to Washington Dulles and Flight 822 to Dallas-Fort Worth.
Develops symptoms
CDC director Frieden says Duncan developed symptoms ‘four or five days” after traveling to the U.S. The incubation period is two to 21 days.
Contact with 12-18 people
Duncan comes into contact with 12 to 18 people in Dallas over a period of several days after he starts developing symptoms. Five of them are his girlfriend’s children. An ambulance crew that takes him to hospital are also among those identified.
Presents at hospital
Duncan presents at Texas Health Presbyterian after 10 p.m. local time. He undergoes basic blood tests but isn’t screened for Ebola, and is given antibiotics and a pain killer. Dr. Edward Goodman:
His condition did not warrant admission. He also was not exhibiting symptoms specific to Ebola.
Although Duncan informs a nurse that he has traveled from Liberia. Staff say this is not ‘fully communicated’ to the hospital’s medical team.
Admitted to hospital
Duncan arrives at Texas Health Presbyterian by ambulance and is admitted. A friend says that he called the CDC after Duncan was sent home from the hospital, who told him to call the Texas Board of Health and the message eventually got to the hospital. Health Presbyterian says by the time Duncan arrived:
EMS had already identified potential need for isolation. The hospital followed all suggested CDC protocols at that time.
Cares for Duncan
Vinson is one of the nurses who cares for Duncan. She draws his blood, inserts catheters, and deals with his bodily fluids, according to Duncan’s medical records obtained by the Associated Press.
Schoolchildren exposed
Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles says five children from four of the district’s campuses were possibly exposed to the virus:
- Conrad High School
- Tasby Middle School
- Hotchkiss Elementary School
- Dan D. Rogers Elementary School
Tasby Middle School shares a campus with Jack Lowe Sr. Elementary School, but DISD officials say no students at Lowe Elementary were directly exposed. The students who may have had contact with Thomas Eric Duncan attended classes earlier in the week, but none have exhibited symptoms. Miles:
So, the odds of them passing on any sort of virus is very low
The children are at home and being monitored by Dallas County Health and Human Services, while the schools have been staffed with additional health employees and more sanitation staff.
Hasn’t eaten in a week
A friend who speaks with Duncan says he is ‘all right’ but hasn’t eaten in a week:
He is in pain.
Health Presbyterian says he remains in serious condition.
Won’t be given ZMapp
Duncan won’t be given ZMapp, as all the dosages currently in existence have already been used. ZMapp is manufacturing more supplies, but the drug takes months to produce.
Alert issued to hospitals
The CDC has issued a nationwide alert to hospitals updating them on how to appropriately respond to possible Ebola cases after Duncan was sent home after contracting the virus. CDC director Frieden:
It’s a teachable moment.
The guidance includes a poster with quick rules for evaluating returned travelers and a checklist.
Hospital mistake
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Dr. Anthony Fauci tells CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper that Texas Health Presbyterian made a mistake by releasing Duncan:
A travel history was taken, but it wasn’t communicated to the people who were making the decision. … It was a mistake. They dropped the ball. You don’t want to pile on them, but hopefully this will never happen again. … The CDC has been vigorously emphasizing the need for a travel history.
Plans to prosecute
Liberia will prosecute Duncan for allegedly lying on an airport questionnaire about not having any contact with an infected person. He filled out a series of questions about his health and activities on Sept. 19, answering no to all of them. The form asked whether he had cared for an Ebola patient or touched the body of anyone who had died in an area affected by Ebola.Binyah Kesselly, chairman of the board of directors of the Liberia Airport Authority in Monrovia:
We expect people to do the honorable thing.
The agency obtained permission from the Ministry of Justice to pursue the matter.
100 people screened
The number of people being screened in Dallas increases to around 100. CDC Director Frieden says only a ‘handful’ of people who had contact with Duncan have been identified. Most of the 100 people haven’t been ordered to stay home however officials say they ordered four of Duncan’s family members to remain in their home as the family disobeyed their request to stay there. The family was examined Thursday and hadn’t developed symptoms. A law enforcement official is stationed outside their apartment to make sure they don’t leave.
United contacts passengers
United is contacting passengers who flew in and out of Dulles with Duncan and telling them how to contact health officials. United officials decline to say how many passengers were on the flights. The Brussels-to-Dulles flight used a Boeing 777 with 266 seats and the flight to Dallas used an Airbus A320 with 138 seats. United did a routine overnight ‘thorough cleaning’ after the flights:
Including cleaning of lavatories and galleys with heavy-duty all-purpose cleaners and wiping tray tables and armrests with disinfectant … We continue to clean and route the planes throughout our network as usual.
Dallas may file charges
The office of Dallas County DA Craig Watkins is considering state charges of aggravated assault against Duncan:
We’re dealing with the issue that he may have knowingly exposed individuals in Dallas County to the Ebola virus. We’ve prosecuted individuals, for knowingly exposing individuals to HIV – which is aggravated assault.
Critical
Duncan has worsened and is in critical condition, Texas Health Presbyterian says. The hospital doesn’t provide other details.
Exposure examination
Monnig, a sheriff’s deputy who served a quarantine order to the apartment where Thomas Eric Duncan was staying, is being examined at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital for possible exposure to Ebola. Monnig, although not in direct contact with Duncan, exhibits symptoms and history that warrant testing. Dallas County Sheriff’s Office:
The deputy expressed concern and we directed that deputy to the Dallas County Health & Human Services for care. We now wait for further information as medical staff attends to the deputy.
Thomas Eric Duncan dies of Ebola
Duncan is pronounced dead at 7:51 a.m. at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, where he was admitted Sept. 28 and has been kept in isolation. Texas officials are monitoring 10 people who had direct contact with him while he was symptomatic, as well as 38 others who may have had contact. None have shown symptoms of the disease to this point. They will be monitored for 21 days, the normal incubation period for the disease. Hospital:
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.