Ebola patient dies in Texas as deputy sheriff is hospitalised after showing symptoms
The first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States died yesterday, 11 days after he was first admitted to a hospital in Dallas.
The death of Liberian national Thomas Eric Duncan in an isolation ward has brought up questions of the quality of care he received.
Ebola experts questioned the experimental drug given to Duncan.
The drugs brincidofovir had not been tested on humans or animals whereas another drug, TKM, had "potentially saved" the live of a doctor who contracted Ebola while working in Liberia, said virologist Thomas Geisbert of the University of Texas Medical Branch.
Sheriff's deputy hospitalised
Meanwhile, a sheriff's deputy who went into Duncan's apartment, has been hospitalised after "exhibiting signs and symptoms" of Ebola.
The Suburban Dallas officials say that he was admitted "out of an abundance of caution".
The deputy had no contact with Duncan but he did have contact with some members of the family that lived there.
Health officials say none of the family members have showed any symptoms of the viral disease and so, wouldn't have been contagious.
The Mayor added that the risk of the deputy having Ebola is minimal.
But he was hospitalised "out of an abundance of caution".
US airports will start screening passengers
Some US airports will also be screening passengers arriving from West African for fever.
Duncan was no screened on arrival in the United States.
The current Ebola outbreak, the worst on record, began in March. On Wednesday, the World Health Organization updated its toll of the disease. WHO said Ebola has killed 3,879 people out of 8,033 cases by the end of Oct. 5.
Source: Reuters, CBS News
Related report: First case of Ebola confirmed in the United States
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