'What we saw was very painful': Dallas Ebola victim's son says family find it too upsetting to see him in such a terrible state as he is put on a breathing machine and dialysis

  • Kasiah Duncan, 19, speaks out for the first time since his dad, Thomas Duncan, was diagnosed as the first confirmed Ebola case on US soil
  • Kasiah says he continues to pray that his 'dad makes it out safely' 
  • Duncan's distraught family visited the hospital on Tuesday but didn't have the heart to see him, since last time was 'too upsetting'
  • He remains in critical condition but was showing improved liver function Tuesday 

By Pedro Oliveira Jr. for MailOnline and Associated Press

Published: 20:44 EST, 7 October 2014 | Updated: 02:51 EST, 8 October 2014

The son of the first person diagnosed with the deadly Ebola virus on American soil on Tuesday evening spoke for the first time about his father's condition.

Kasiah Duncan, 19, on Tuesday arrived in Dallas to visit dad Thomas Duncan from San Angelo, Texas, where he is a student at Angelo State University.

'I hope and keep praying that my family is OK — and that my dad makes it out safely,' Kasiah said. 

The college student spoke briefly and softly to reporters at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, which has a large Liberian community.

'Thank you church for all the good things you've been doing for my mom, the support given to my family,' Kasiah said. 'Thanks to the hospital for their work in trying to help my dad stay alive.' 

Kasiah's mother, Louise Troh, remains in quarantine after she had contact with Duncan. Troh left Liberia more than a decade ago after a falling out with Duncan — but the two renewed their relationship earlier this year. 

Kasiah Duncan (center), son of Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan, speaks about his dad's condition in Dallas on Tuesday. With him: Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings (left rear) and Saymendy Lloyd (left), executive director of the Women's Wing Organization

Kasiah Duncan (center), son of Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan, speaks about his dad's condition in Dallas on Tuesday. With him: Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings (left rear) and Saymendy Lloyd (left), executive director of the Women's Wing Organization

Kasiah Duncan, 19, spoke to reporters for the first time Tuesday regarding his dad's condition, after he was the first person diagnosed with the deadly Ebola virus 
Kasiah Duncan, 19, spoke to reporters for the first time Tuesday regarding his dad's condition, after he was the first person diagnosed with the deadly Ebola virus 

Kasiah Duncan, 19, spoke to reporters for the first time Tuesday regarding his dad's condition, after he was the first person diagnosed with the deadly Ebola virus 

Thomas Duncan remains in critical condition but was showing improved liver function Tuesday 

Thomas Duncan remains in critical condition but was showing improved liver function Tuesday 

Duncan's mother, Nowai Korkoya, traveled some 15 hours to pray near the hospital where her son remains in isolation

Duncan's mother, Nowai Korkoya, traveled some 15 hours to pray near the hospital where her son remains in isolation

Duncan's family visited him at the hospital Tuesday but declined to view him via video because the last time had been too upsetting.

The relatives glimpsed him using a video system at Dallas' Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital on Monday.

But when they returned anew, this time with Rev. Jessie Jackson, they decided such images were too much.

'What we saw was very painful. It didn't look good,' said Duncan's nephew, Josephus Weeks.

Weeks said he and Duncan's mother were unable to sleep after seeing Duncan's face.

The hospital says Duncan, who has been in isolation since Sept. 28, is in critical condition and is sedated but stable. He is on a breathing machine and kidney dialysis. His temperature is normal and his diarrhea has slowed, relatives say.

Duncan's liver function, which declined over the weekend, has improved, though doctors say it may it may not stay that way.

David Lakey, commissioner of Texas' Department of State Health Services, walked the hospital ward housing Duncan, which is otherwise vacant. 

He said security and medical officials wear gowns, double gloves and masks, and are following protocols on removing them and showering when they leave the ward.

'They are doing their work very safely,' Lakey said.

Authorities in the United States and the public are on alert following Duncan's diagnosis more than a week ago, which raised concerns that the worst epidemic of Ebola on record could spread from three hardest-hit impoverished countries — Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Duncan, who arrived in Texas in late September on a commercial flight from Liberia, has been in critical condition since Saturday.

The first case of Ebola being contracted outside of West Africa was reported in Spain and the World Health Organization expects more cases in Europe.

Freelance NBC cameraman Ashoka Mukpo is being treated at the Nebraska Medical Center, which cared for one other U.S. national flown out of West Africa after contracting Ebola and was later discharged.

Nowai Korkoya (center), mother of Ebola patient Thomas Duncan walks with the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who arrived in Dallas on Tuesday to lend support to the patient's family

Nowai Korkoya (center), mother of Ebola patient Thomas Duncan walks with the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who arrived in Dallas on Tuesday to lend support to the patient's family

Support: Duncan's nephew, Josephus Weeks, is comforted by the Rev. Jesse Jackson

Support: Duncan's nephew, Josephus Weeks, is comforted by the Rev. Jesse Jackson

The drug used in Dallas and Nebraska, brincidofovir, was developed by Durham, North Carolina-based Chimerix Inc. The company said it has been tested in more than 1,000 patients without raising safety concerns.

'We decided this was currently our best option for treatment,' said Phil Smith, medical director of the Nebraska Medical Center's Biocontainment Unit, which consulted with U.S. health and drug officials before making its decision.

Mukpo is experiencing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, the center said.

U.S. health officials said on Tuesday they would unveil within days new screening procedures at the country's airports to address public concern over the possibility of an outbreak.

Texas state health officials said they are monitoring 10 people who had close contact with Duncan and 38 others who came into contact with that group to see if anyone had developed signs of infection.

So far, no one has shown any symptoms, health officials said.

Officials have said this is a critical week to see if any of those exposed in Dallas develop signs of the virus that has killed more than 3,400 people since an outbreak in West Africa began in March, out of nearly 7,500 confirmed, probable and suspected cases.

Dallas residents have mostly taken in news of Ebola within the city limits calmly, but many have kept a close eye on whether it might spread. Cars of Dallas County Sheriff's deputies who were at the scene of the apartment where Duncan stayed have been scrubbed as a precaution, the sheriff's office said.

Prominent civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson met members of Duncan's family and held a prayer vigil on Tuesday in front of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital.

Jackson said the hospital initially discharged Duncan because he was poor and did not have medical insurance. About two days after Duncan left the hospital, he was taken back by ambulance and put into isolation.

The hospital and health officials have said mistakes were made in handling Duncan. 

Hazardous material cleaners prepare to hang black plastic outside The Ivy Apartments in Dallas, where Thomas Duncan stayed when he began showing Ebola-related symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea

Hazardous material cleaners prepare to hang black plastic outside The Ivy Apartments in Dallas, where Thomas Duncan stayed when he began showing Ebola-related symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea

Prayer: Louise Troh, 54, the 'wife' of Thomas Eric Duncan sitting on the steps of her apartment before with nephew Jeffrey Cole, who is also now in quarantine with her

Prayer: Louise Troh, 54, the 'wife' of Thomas Eric Duncan sitting on the steps of her apartment before with nephew Jeffrey Cole, who is also now in quarantine with her

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