The man who brought Ebola into the United States lied on his exit form so he could leave Liberia — and now authorities in the West African nation want to prosecute him if he returns, government officials said Thursday.
As the deadly virus sweeps across West Africa, people leaving all nations in the region have been required to be screened for fever and have also been questioned about exposure to infected patients.
Thomas Eric Duncan — who is in serious but stable condition at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital — had been staying in Monrovia before flying to visit with relatives in Dallas.
On the form, Duncan answered “No” in the portion that asked if he had been in contact with anyone who had contracted Ebola, according to a questionnaire obtained by The Associated Press.
It was reported Thursday that Duncan had helped a 19-year-old pregnant woman in Monrovia to an ambulance. She ended up dying from the virus.
Her brother, 21-year-old Sonny Boy, also helped carry his sister and later became ill — eventually dying on his way to the hospital for treatment.
Duncan was screened and cleared for travel before flying out of Liberia, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tom Frieden said during a media briefing Thursday.
Duncan had his temperature taken by a trained CDC individual with an approved thermometer — recording a temperature of 97.3, Frieden said.
“The individual did not have a fever,” he said. “The status of his possible exposures prior to departure is being investigated further.”
Frieden added that the CDC — with help from Liberian authorities — were the ones who actually created the official exit form used at West African airports. Frieden said Duncan may have had no clue how serious his exposure was at the time of his departure.
Liberia Airport Authority’s chairman of the board of directors said Duncan would be prosecuted immediately upon returning to the West African nation.
Texas is now monitoring more than 100 people for the Ebola virus, health officials told The Post on Thursday.
“This situation is constantly evolving,” Dallas County Health and Human Services spokeswoman Erikka Neroes told The Post. “No one is symptomatic, and we are doing everything within our power and our procedures to maintain this.”
Twelve to 18 people came in contact with Duncan while he displayed symptoms, Neroes said.