US Ebola Patient Dies

Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States, died on Wednesday.

Duncan had been placed on a ventilator and was undergoing kidney dialysis at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas after his health deteriorated over the weekend.

Duncan's fiance, Louise Troh, who is in quarantine, expressed her thanks to the Dallas community, her church and the Liberian community for their support.

"His suffering is over. My family is in deep sadness and grief, but we leave him in the hands of God. Our deepest sympathies go out to his father and family in Liberia and here in America. Eric was a wonderful man who showed compassion toward all," Troh said, reports Fox News.

Troh also said that she believes that a detailed examination will take place regarding all aspects of the care given to Duncan.

Meanwhile, the government's plan of additional screening of incoming airline passengers to detect Ebola symptoms will begin Saturday.

The screening includes taking the temperatures of hundreds of travelers arriving from West Africa at five major U.S. airports, reports the Associated Press.

The screenings, which will start at New York's JFK International Airport on Saturday, will be extended to Washington Dulles and other international airports in Atlanta, Chicago and Newark in due course.

The checking will be carried out by using high-tech thermometers that do not come in contact with the skin. Around 150 people per day will be checked.

The death of Duncan has raised questions whether a delay in diagnosing and treating him might have contributed to his death.  Before being admitted to the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas on Sept. 28, Duncan had sought treatment two days before because of fever and other symptoms. However, he was not admitted to the hospital then.

Speaking at a teleconference with mayors and local officials, President Obama said that he was confident that the country can prevent an outbreak of the disease. However, he asked the officials to be alert.

"As we saw in Dallas, we don't have a lot of margin for error," Obama said. "If we don't follow protocols and procedures that are put in place, then we're putting folks in our communities at risk," he added, reports AP.