BREAKING: Dallas Ebola Patient Thomas Eric Duncan Dies

Thomas Eric Duncan, the man who contracted Ebola while in Liberia and later traveled to Dallas, has died in the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital where he was being treated.

Hospital officials stated that Duncan was declared dead earlier this morning:

"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 arrived in Dallas from Liberia on Sept. 20. By Sept. 24, he was seeking treatment for symptoms related with the disease. By Sept. 28, he was placed in isolation while his symptoms were assessed. It didn't take long for the media to whip up a public frenzy over the possibility that the disease had been brought stateside. However, Texas health officials were on the ball, immediately launching an investigation that traced up to 100 people who had either direct or secondary contact with Duncan. Although the list was narrowed down to 50 "contract traces," with only about 10 presenting any serious risk for contraction, health officials stated that the risk was ultimately fairly low for all of the contact traces they've investigated. So, if there's a silver lining in any of this, it's that the chances are low that Duncan has caused an American outbreak. That said, this is a tragic situation all-around, as the Ebola plague continues to ravage victims on a worldwide scale.

We'd like to add our condolences to Mr. Duncan's family and loved ones.

Via: NPR

Credit: Wilmot Chayee/AP