INSIDE EDITION reports on the final words Thomas Eric Duncan had for his family before dying of Ebola as the outbreak continues to make headlines around the world.
We're learning the final words of Thomas Duncan, the first person to die of Ebola in America.
His grieving family revealed that just before he passed away, Duncan apologized to them for putting them in jeopardy.
"I would have rather died in Liberia than put you at risk," he said.
INSIDE EDITION's Les Trent spoke to ABC's Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Richard Besser.
Trent asked, "If Duncan had made it to the hospital sooner, is there more of a possibility he could have survived?"
Dr. Besser replied, "You never know what would have happened if they picked this up right away and given him treatment. There's no virus on the face of the Earth that's more deadly than Ebola. In Africa, 70 percent of the people who get this infection die. This is the first death on U.S. soil from Ebola, and we'll never know if that death could have been prevented."
Forty-eight people who came in contact with Duncan are still being closely monitored. These next few days are critical. If they make it through the weekend with no symptoms, they are out of the danger zone.
Another Ebola patient, the NBC cameraman now hospitalized in Nebraska, is also fighting for his life, and he got a gift of hope today—a blood transfusion from Ebola survivor, Dr. Kent Brantly.
Dr. Brantly's blood contains antibodies that may help the cameraman fight off the infection.
And this family dog is at the center of an international Ebola drama that has the entire nation of Spain up in arms.
His name is Excalibur. His owner is a nurse who is infected with Ebola.
Officials say Excalibur must be put down to quote "eliminate the risk" of transmitting Ebola to more humans.
Protestors gathered outside Excalibur's home, chanting: "Assassins! Assassins!"
Despite the outcry, Excalibur was put to sleep.
Trent asked Dr. Besser, "Is it possible for an animal to get Ebola or to pass the Ebola infection along?"
Dr. Besser replied, "We know that the outbreaks of Ebola that have taken place have come from an animal to a human. We don't know whether this dog or Eric Duncan's dog are infectious. I would like to know if there's something short of putting the dog to sleep that could be done to save their lives, but also to keep people safe."
Back in the U.S., a sick passenger on board an American Eagle flight landing in Midland, Texas, sparked a full blown Ebola panic.
Authorities reported, "This patient was violently ill. They've got the passengers on board with masks and gloves out."
The passenger, it turned out, does not have Ebola.
So, is the panic over Ebola a little excessive? Stephen Colbert certainly thinks so.
Colbert said on The Colbert Report, "It is now day seven of the global pandemic that some are calling 'Ebolapolooza.' Not many, just me so far, but it's going to catch on."
