The Slatest

Dallas Ebola Patient Thomas Eric Duncan Has Died

Duncan’s mother and nephew.

Photo by Jim Young/Reuters

Update, Oct. 8, 2014, 11:30 a.m.: Thomas Eric Duncan has died, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital says. The statement from the hospital:

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. 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.

Original post, Oct. 8, 2014, 11:13 a.m.: Dallas Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan is using a ventilator and kidney dialysis machine, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital officials said at a news conference Tuesday, but his family said some of his health signs—including his temperature and blood pressure—are back to normal levels. From the New York Times:

Since Saturday, Mr. Duncan has been receiving brincidofovir — an experimental drug developed to fight smallpox and other highly infectious viruses. The C.D.C. said there are no more doses of ZMapp, another experimental drug used on two American aid workers who later recovered from Ebola.

Mr. Duncan’s nephew said that despite signs of improvement, the virus has given his uncle serious infections in his lungs and kidneys, and Mr. Duncan has not yet turned a corner toward recovery.

Today is the 10th day since Duncan was isolated in the hospital. The CDC says that the “average” amount of time after someone is exposed to Ebola that symptoms begin to appear if they’re infected is eight to 10 days. About 48 people are thought to have had contact with Duncan during the time that he could have infected them.

Meanwhile, in Maryland, a patient who had been exposed to Ebola in Sierra Leone was discharged from the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. “The patient, who was not named, will remain in his home for 21 days since his exposure to the virus, a needle stick injury,” Reuters says.

Read more of Slate’s Ebola coverage.