Ebola Patient Came to U.S. to Marry Girlfriend, Start 'New Life in America'

Photo Source: Thomas Eric Duncan via Facebook

Story by Bloomberg
Written by Kelly Gilblom

Thomas Eric Duncan, the Dallas Ebola patient, came to the U.S. to marry his girlfriend, a local pastor said. Days later, Duncan was seriously ill and in isolation at a local hospital. His girlfriend is now in quarantine in the apartment where he fell sick.

Duncan arrived in Dallas from Liberia last month, with plans to visit Louise Troh and “start a new life in America” with her, according to an e-mail sent today to the congregation of Wilshire Baptist Church, where Troh is a member.

“Louise and other members of her extended family are in isolation now because of their contact with Mr. Duncan,” said George Mason, who the church’s website identifies as a senior pastor. “You can imagine how frightening this must be for all of them, mixed with the sadness of Mr. Duncan’s diagnosis.”

Duncan arrived in the U.S. on Sept. 20 and developed symptoms four days later. He went to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas’s emergency room for treatment on Sept. 25 and was sent home with antibiotics, before returning in an ambulance three days later.

Health officials have said Duncan is in serious condition, and are monitoring about 100 people who may have had exposure to the disease. So far, none has had symptoms.

A call to a home phone number listed for Louise Troh was not answered. Attempts to reach Mason at e-mail and phone contacts listed on the church’s website were unsuccessful.