CHICAGO (WLS) -- The family of Thomas Eric Duncan, the first Ebola patient diagnosed in the United States, came to Chicago to speak out about his death, saying it could have been prevented.
Relatives of Thomas Eric Duncan are comforted by the Reverend Jesse Jackson as they express their outrage over his death.
"He's like my brother, my uncle, best friend and to snatch all that from me. I'm a little upset," said Josehpus Weeks, Duncan's nephew.
His family was brought to Chicago by the civil rights leader for Saturday's Rainbow PUSH meeting. The 42-year old died last week.
Duncan's mother questions why he wasn't given the same treatment afforded to infected health care workers flown from Africa to the United States.
Duncan began to show signs of Ebola several days after arriving in the United States from his home in Liberia, where it is believed he contracted the disease while helping a pregnant woman sick with it. The woman later died.
Jackson says when Duncan went to Presbyterian Hospital emergency room in Dallas on September 25, he was sent home with Tylenol and prescription antibiotics, although he had the textbook symptoms of Ebola.
"His temperature was a 103, and he had been vomiting and perspiring. These were the signs," Rev. Jackson said.
When Duncan returned two days later, he was in bad shape. Some doctors say if Duncan's hospital treatment had started sooner, he may have survived.
"They missed it and there's no debating that, but I don't think it was intentional because now they are also susceptible to Ebola themselves," said Dr. C. Sola Olopade, University of Chicago Center for Global Health.
Officials say he could not be treated by a blood transfusion because his blood type was not a match and the experimental drug Zmapp wasn't available, but others wonder it was because Duncan was a poor and African.
"I would hate to think that racism was involved, but I cannot think of nothing else but," said State Rep. Mary Flowers.
Meanwhile, Duncan's direct contact with his fiancee and others now being quarantined and monitored for symptoms has sharpened fears of the spread of the disease in the U.S.
"We're one of the few states that can do the lab testing beginning next week. I think we're well-prepared," said Dr. Lamar Hasbrouck, Illinois Department of Public Health.