The first person ever diagnosed with Ebola in the United States, Tomas Eric Duncan, today lost his battle against the virus.
Mr. Duncan died at 7:51 a.m., according to officials at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.
“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,” said a hospital statement.
Duncan was diagnosed on Sept. 30, after initially being misdiagnosed and sent home after his first hospital visit on Sept. 28.
In recent days his condition was elevated from serious to critical.
As his condition deteriorated, approval was given for emergency use of a new antiviral drug called brincidofovir. Despite these efforts and supportive care for organ function and fluid replacement, the patient died approximately one week after diagnosis.
Ebola has claimed at least 3,432 lives during this 2014 outbreak, according to the U.S. CDC.
