Ebola patient's son felt pushed by faith to see dad

Dallas Ebola patient's son not allowed to visit father at hospital

Hospital officials confirmed that Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person to be diagnosed with the Ebola virus in the United States, has died.

The son of the Texas Ebola patient traveled hundreds of miles to visit his father on Tuesday -- but was unable to see him, reports CBS News correspondent Manuel Bojorquez.

He said it was his faith that pushed him to leave college to be with his father.

"I just came down here because I felt God was calling me to come see my dad," Duncan's 19-year-old son Karsiah said.

Duncan died Wednesday at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. He was being treated with an experimental drug. He was also on a ventilator and receiving dialysis.

"I hope and keep praying that my family is okay and my dad makes it out safely," his son said.

But the hospital wouldn't allow Karsiah to see his sick father.

In a statement, the hospital said it was "standard with hospital patients who are unable to make decisions on their own" for a representative to make "decisions about patient access and communications."

"The hospital offered for the patient's son to see his father through Skype tonight," said the statement, adding that Karsiah "decided to wait until tomorrow."

Three other hospitals in Dallas have set up special Ebola isolation units as they reach the midway point of the disease's 21-day maximum incubation period.

Unfortunately, people in Dallas are reacting to anything that might be considered Ebola-related with an abundance of caution, and concern over the virus is spreading across the state.

Emergency crews swarmed American Airlines flight 2791 in Midland, Texas, Wednesday morning after a passenger on board got sick.

The plane originated from Dallas, sparking concerns of Ebola. Midland officials said that although Ebola was unlikely, it was not being ruled out. According to officials on the scene, at least 100 passengers were questioned and released.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said they were working to fast-track changes to improve airport screenings for the virus.

"We're looking hard at what we can do to further increase the safety of Americans, and in the coming days we will announce further measures that will be taken," said CDC Director Tom Frieden.

Health officials said this week was critical to see if the virus had spread to any of Duncan's high risk contacts.

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