Federal authorities are mustering all the help they can get to track down child predators.

They're expanding "Operation Predator," an app available for Android and iPhones, that asks you to help ICE track down wanted criminals.

"This app is one piece of our commitment to ensuring child predators have absolutely nowhere to hide," said Acting ICE Director Thomas Winkowski.

The app displays mugshots of fugitives wanted in child porn cases, describes their crimes and allows the public to call or send in tips.

The app also sends out alerts of wanted felons and allows users to further distribute that information on social media.

It was developed by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which named its app after its effort to combat the large number of sexual exploitation of children every year.

The app is downloadable from the Google Play store and iTunes. It's also available in Spanish.

The idea behind it?

The more the public puts eyes on these wanted criminals -- from anywhere, anytime on their mobile devices -- the better chances the cases will get solved.

Within 36 hours of its launch on iPhones and iPads in September 2013, the app was credited with helping capture a suspect, officials said. Tips from users of the app helped capture three other predators since then, said ICE Special Agent in Charge Claude Arnold, who is based in Los Angeles.

"The most important thing is that [this app] has raised awareness about child crimes," Arnold said.

Anti-child abuse advocates applaud the effort.

"Anything that draws public attention to this problem and the perpetrators is great," said Scott Berkowitz, the founder and president of the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network.

For first time since his father was diagnosed with the Ebola virus, the son of Dallas Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan is speaking out publicly Tuesday.

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

His father remains in critical condition at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, and health officials are monitoring the teen's mother, Louise Troh, for 21 days, making sure she shows no signs of having the virus herself.

"I want to thank my mom for her strength," said Karsiah Duncan, a student at Angelo State University. "She's been having going through all this being strong. Everything is hard being in the house for 21 days, not knowing what's going to happen after she gets out."

Celebrities such as Iyanla Vanzant and Chris Brown have reached out to Duncan's son to offer their support, and President Barack Obama has shared his support for the family as well. The Rev. Jesse Jackson led a prayer vigil earlier Tuesday outside Presbyterian Hospital for Thomas Duncan.

"What we saw was very painful," Duncan's nephew Josephus Weeks said. "He wasn't looking good."

Family members and Jackson have expressed their concern that Thomas Duncan was discharged from the hospital, only to return two days later with more severe symptoms of the virus.

"He should have been treated earlier," said Jackson, who came to Dallas at the request of the family. "But he is being treated now and I hope not too late."

"It's been tough, it's been stressful, all of the above," said Weeks. "It's been hard for us."

Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas has been praying for Thomas Eric Duncan and Troh ever since finding out about the Ebola virus diagnosis. Troh has been a member of the church since before her baptism in June 2014.

The church will hold a prayer vigil for members of the Liberian community at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at 4316 Abrams Road.

Senior Pastor George Mason has said he speaks with Troh daily by phone from her new isolation area. He said he won't be able to visit in person until the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approves his request.

Mason and Troh have talked about relying on prayer during her monitoring period and as Thomas Duncan recovers in isolation at the hospital.

Mason said while Troh and her family have not been to church since Thomas Duncan arrived in the United States, his church continues to offer prayer and encouragement to Troh and her family members in quarantine.

A man tried to talk to a woman inside a Queens building lobby, then slashed her neck when she ignored him, according to police, who are now looking for the suspect.

The man, believed to be about 20 years old, approached the 26-year-old victim in the lobby of a Jamaica building after 5 a.m. on Oct. 1, police said. 

He tried talking to the woman, and when she turned away, he grabbed her from behind and used some sort of cutting instrument to slash her neck, according to police. 

The victim was taken to the hospital, where she was listed in critical but stable condition. 

The suspect is about 6 feet tall and 180 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. 

Police say they are looking for a man who allegedly hit a sleeping 22-year-old man in the head with a hammer in his apartment on the Lower East Side Tuesday morning.

The victim was sleeping when he awoke to find the suspect attacking him in the head with a hammer, according to police. 

The victim tried to run away, and the suspect hit him again, both on the head and the arm, police said. 

The suspect then fled. 

The suspect had been subletting the apartment from the victim, police said, though it's not clear how long he'd been staying there or how well the two knew each other.

The victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. 

Could replacing the battery in your smoke alarm become a thing of the past?

Under Senate Bill 745, every new smoke detector sold and installed in California must come with a 10-year battery that can’t be removed. In addition, all new smoke alarms must have a manual silencing feature and a designated place to write the installation date by Jan. 1, 2015. The new law does not apply to alarms that are hard-wired.

San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Fire Marshal Doug Perry demonstrated the new generation of smokes detectors during a Fire Prevention Week event Tuesday in Clairemont.

Perry said the problem isn’t necessarily that people don’t own smoke detectors; it’s that they take out the batteries.

“Most batteries are a yearlong, and the smoke detector starts to chirp. Instead of getting a new battery and replacing it, they remove the battery, and now we have a smoke alarm with no power that will not activate,” he said.

The new devices cannot be turned off and will still chirp when the battery gets low. However, they will be required to have a “hush” feature to stop the chirping.

“It’s human nature that stops these things from working, not technology, and the weak link was the battery,” Perry said.

The new models will run between $25 and $50, according to Gigi Lubin with First Alert, which manufactures smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and combination smoke-CO alarms. A basic, traditional smoke detector costs between $5 and $10, Lubin said.

If you can’t afford new smoke detectors, Perry recommends putting 10-year batteries in your current ones. The new law doesn’t require people to replace their current smoke detectors; rather, stores will only be permitted to sell new ones that meet the new requirements.

The fire department advises putting smoke alarms between your kitchen and living area, in each bedroom and in hallways.

First Alert donated 150 new smoke alarms to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. The fire department will be giving them away at Fire Station Open Houses this weekend. Visit the department’s Facebook page for hours and locations.

A software upgrade is to blame for security cameras going dark at the McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad Monday before an unattended backpack prompted evacuations at the terminal and restaurant.

Returning from a trip to Europe, Kim Rosner accidentally left her green REI backpack behind when her son picked her up from the airport.

By the time she returned for it Monday evening, Carlsbad Police had cleared the area and called in the San Diego County Sheriff’s bomb squad to detonate the suspicious bag.

Rosner rushed up just in time to claim it.

"Accident, totally. Felt awful, but thankfully it was nothing to be concerned about," she said.

Rosner told NBC 7 that officials said their surveillance cameras were down, so they could not see who left the bag.

Airport Manager Olivier Brackett explained that when security spots an unattended bag, it is their procedure to look at surveillance video to see if a passenger flying in accidentally left it behind.

"So if I can determine that person was screened before they arrived at the airport, then that bag is pretty safe, and at that point we'll clear the bag,” said Brackett.

But a programming issue stopped video from recording onto the server. The system had just undergone maintenance on Saturday.

Brackett said the cameras themselves were working properly, but they did not realize the system had a problem until they tried to playback the video Monday.

Had the system been recording, Brackett said, they would most likely have seen Rosner posed no threat.

“When we noticed that the video wasn’t being recorded, we reverted to our existing backup protocols and called Carlsbad PD,” he said. Police in turn called the sheriff’s bomb squad, which ordered an evacuation of the area.

One camera in the area was recording correctly but at a difficult angle, Brackett said. The bag was tucked behind a trash can, next to a bench, so investigators were not able to confirm it was the bag in question.

The surveillance system is running properly now.

According Brackett, incidents like this are very rare. Airport security has an issue that requires them to check the security camera footage less than once a year, he said.

The airport, situated off Palomar Airport Road east of Interstate 5, houses about 283 aircraft, according to its website. In 2013, Palomar handled 160,290 takeoffs and landings.

Citing a “bleak” outlook in the statewide drought, San Diego’s mayor proposed mandatory water restrictions for all residents beginning Nov. 1

This year has been the driest in a generation, Mayor Kevin Faulconer said Tuesday as he proposed the city move to the next level of conservation - "Drought Alert."

“Looking ahead to 2015, if consistent rains do not materialize things could go from bad to worse,” Faulconer said.

If approved by the City Council, the voluntary measures that have been in effect since July will become mandatory.

Homeowners in San Diego will be able to water their lawns no more than three days a week and for no more than seven minutes on those days. Odd-numbered addresses will water Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Even-numbered addresses will water Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Apartments, condominiums and businesses would be allowed to water on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Residents can wash vehicles before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. during the months of November through May.

Also, irrigation will not be allowed during a rain event and ornamental fountains must be turned off

This isn’t the first time San Diego has San Diego followed mandatory water restrictions. The city successfully instituted the measures from 2009 to 2011.

As for enforcement, Faulconer said it's not difficult to get San Diegans to comply.

"This is a way of life that most San Diegans have been doing," he said.

Even so, there will be a staff of 10 employees who will be responsible for educating the public and businesses about any new restrictions.

Among the "24 Ways to Save Hundreds of Gallons Every Week" suggestions from the city:

• Turn the water off while lathering-up in the shower. Then turn the water back on to quickly rinse.(Saves 75 gallons a week per person).
• When doing the laundry, never wash less than a full load. (Saves 100 gallons a week).
• Never let the water run while brushing your teeth or shaving. (Saves 35 gallons a week per person)
• Don't allow children to play with the hose (Saves 10 gallons a minute) 

The city has implemented a hotline for residents to report water wasters at (619) 533-5271.

For more on the restrictions currently in place, click here.

A 9-year-old Temecula boy is in a coma at Rady Children’s Hospital after he was electrically shocked at his own birthday party in what his dad describes as a “freak accident.”

His family said they were celebrating his birthday a few weeks early when the fourth grader was shocked Saturday near the swimming pool at their home.

Celebrating his upcoming birthday with family friends and his baseball team, Elijah Belden was snapping a picture with a friend when the accident happened.

He apparently touched a metal patio cover support that had stringing lights and somehow had become electrified. Moments after he was shocked, a family friend rushed to Elijah’s side to perform CPR.

“He went into the mode of ‘this is what we gotta do to save his life. And he did,” said Elijah’s father, Eric Belden.

Elijah is now in a medically induced coma and in stable condition. His father said he will soon be taken out of the coma and doctors will assess his recovery from that point.

His family is grateful for the community support – cards and letters with words of encouragement.

“Our focus is putting all of our energies towards the fact that the community responded and we're putting all of our energy into Elijah's healing,” his father said. “Full recovery. We're trusting in God for full recovery.”

Belden said the family is taking it day by day, not focusing on how the freak accident happened, but how to get Elijah well again.

“A freak accident happened. There is no explanation and that’s not something were focused on – how it happened (and) why it happened,” he said.

Google is venturing into vacation territory as it unveils its Street View technology for trails in 14 California state parks.

Tuesday’s initial launch includes imagery of 10 state parks, Point Lobos State Reserve, three state beaches and more than 25 hiking trails.

Google couldn't use its famous satellite technology or Google Cars on the narrow trails, so it outfitted operators with customized Trekker backpacks. The 40-pound units have a 360-degree spinning camera with 15 lenses.

Google employees spent three months hiking the trails, which also included Tomales Bay, Angel Island, and Marina State Beach in Monterey County.

Checkout Google Trekker in:

• Point Lobos State Reserve
• Andrew Molera State Park
• Asilomar State Beach
• Carmel River State Beach
• Garrapata State Park
• Henry W. Coe State Park
• Henry W. Coe State Park Coyote Creek Loop
• Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
• Limekiln State Park
• Marina State Beach

A large tree that stood for more than 100 years and was rumored to have been used for executions cracked and fell overnight at a San Gabriel Valley townhome complex, forcing at least five residents out of their homes for the night.

The tree fell at about 2 a.m. in the 1800 block of East Huntington Drive in Duarte. A branch fell from the tree earlier this week, according to residents at the Huntington Oaks townhomes complex.

"The whole house just jolted," said resident Maggie Griffith. "At first, we thought it was an earthquake, but then we didn't see any rubble."

Two apartment units were red tagged, meaning they were damaged and not safe to occupy. All residents found a place to stay overnight, but it was not immediately clear when they would be allowed to re-enter the apartments.

Branches collapsed onto at least one unit's balcony. No injuries were reported.

Residents told NBC4 the tree was known was the "Hanging Tree" because it was rumored to have been used for hangings in the 1800s.

The body of a pilot who died while fighting a fire in Yosemite National Park was recovered Wednesday morning, as investigators seek to figure out what caused the tanker to crash into a mountainside.

He was identified as Geoffrey Craig Hunt, 62, of San Jose, according to Cal Fire Batallion Chief Richard Lopez. Hunt was a father of three.

As Hunt's body was taken out from a Yosemite ambulance on Wednesday morning, park rangers and firefighters saluted his coffin, draped with an American flag.

Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said at a news conference, the pilot was a DynCorp contractor who had been working for the state firefighting agency for 13 years. Hunt's tanker was based out of the Hollister Air Attack Base.

"We treat those pilots as though they were – they are – Cal firefighters," Berlant said. "He died serving the state and his community."

Berlant said authorities lost contact with the Grumman S-2T Tanker 81 about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday as the pilot was fighting the Dog Rock Fire in Yosemite, which as of Wednesday, had scorched 210 acres and was 0 percent contained.

Later, authorities learned the tanker had crashed into a mountain near Arch Rock. The terrain is difficult, Berlant said, and it took crews until Tuesday night to find the pilot.

The conditions were smoky and "explosive," Berlant said. Hunt's aircraft is part of a fleet of 1950s-era Navy tankers given to the state of California to fight fires. Berlant insisted the fleet of 23 tankers are well maintained. The remaining 22, however, are grounded for now. San Jose photographer and firefighter Craig Rose sent in a photo of the same tanker that crashed as it helped to put out the Loma Fire in Santa Cruz in 2009.

DynCorp. provides the pilots for all CalFire planes and maintenance for the department's aircraft, said Janet Upton, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The company issued a statement citing its "team member" who was "tragically killed" as he "bravely piloted an aircraft deployed to suppress and control a wildfire...The DI family extends its deepest sympathies to the pilot's family and loved ones in this difficult time."

NBC Bay Area's Damian Trujillo and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Big chain restaurants in the United States are cutting back on extra calories in new items they introduce, a study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found.

Items introduced in 2013 – mostly salads and sandwiches– had 60 fewer calories, on average, (about 12 percent) than items on the menu in 2012, according to the study. New beverages and kids' items also saw a decrease of calories.

The study, published in the October issue of American Journal of Preventive Medicine, is based on data from the MenuStat project, a survey of menu items in 66 of the 100 largest U.S. restaurant chains, and was conducted over 2012 and 2013. The analysis looked at fast-food companies like McDonald’s to full service restaurants like IHOP and examined over 19,000 restaurant items.

The study found that overall, average calories didn't change on chain restaurant menus. Most of the changes were to items that don't make up the base of a restaurant's business, so there wasn't much change to signature burger and pizza items.

Sarah N. Bleich, a healthy policy researcher at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, who led the study, said the voluntary decrease in calories is most likely a result of federal laws requiring restaurants to release their calorie numbers.

Still said the results of the study are significant because about one in three Americans eat daily at a fast-food restaurant, and if each person ate 60 fewer calories per visit, "the impact on obesity could be significant," she said.

Chula Vista Police have arrested the man who they say stole a $10,000 wheelchair from a victim having a seizure and put it up for sale on Craigslist.

On Sept. 7, Richard Young — who has cerebral palsy and uses a motorized wheelchair — was on his way home near 3rd Avenue and Oxford Street when he suffered a seizure.

He said a passer-by, who identified himself only as “Joe,” called 911 and then offered to take care of Young’s wheelchair while he was taken to a hospital.

"When I went into the ambulance, he took it away from the sidewalk," Young recounts.

“Joe” told Young he lived nearby and would return the chair to him, police said.

Young was released from the hospital but had no contact from the stranger for weeks.

Finally, detectives decided to broadcast the crime Wednesday in hope of catching the culprit.

After the alert went out, a resident called the CVPD to report seeing the wheelchair for sale on Craigslist.

Investigators, posing as interested buyers, arranged a meeting with the seller, but the person they encountered said he posted the ad for a friend.

That friend, Joseph Marshall, was called and soon arrived at the house, riding in the stolen wheelchair, according to Lt. Fritz Reber.

Not only was Marshall arrested on suspicion of stealing the chair, but police also found him methamphetamine in his possession, Reber said.

The wheelchair has been returned to Young, who is now home with his mother, doing well.

He has these words for those who helped him: "I appreciate about what you did."

The burger options in San Diego are endless, as is the debate on what makes for the juiciest one. But sink your teeth into Part 1 of our most fabulous finds from Yelp. Reviewers have rated these locations among the highest for bites between two buns.

Slater’s 50/50 (Liberty Station) (San Marcos)
Bacon, burgers and craft beer? It’s no wonder local residents rave about these patties, which are made with 50 percent bacon and 50 percent beef. You can either opt to design your own creation or snag a signature stack, such as the “Peanut Butter and Jealousy,” made with Brandt beef topped with peanut butter and strawberry jelly and bacon on a honey wheat bun.

Hodad’s (Point Loma) (Broadway) (Petco)
This beach burger joint is the purest as they come and the burgers are simple. In case you’re wondering, a “Hodad” seems to be a close cousin of the famous Cardiff Kook, described as a ”non-surfer who hangs out on the beach masquerading as a surfer.” But there’s nothing pretend about the love locals have for these burgers, and trust us, you’ll want fries and a shake with that!

Dood’s Foods (Banker's Hill)
The melted cheese and stacks of meat at this pub combined with cool craft brews lure locals from miles around. This dive bar has a serious menu of meaty bites that you shouldn’t miss, including the BBQ Burger that comes with rave reviews. It pairs well with a side of garlic fries. Make sure you don’t miss the Hump Day Happy Hour on Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. where burgers are only $5! 

Rocky’s Crown Pub (Pacific Beach)
First things first, it’s cash only so don’t forget your green! Since 1977, Rocky’s has been serving up its burgers in two sizes, either a half-pound or third-pound, and they’re topped with the basics (mayonnaise, tomato, red leaf lettuce, red onion and pickles on the side.) Eat them with fries for a “Simple and Unsurpassed” meal, as their menu claims. Hundreds of online reviewers agree with this sentiment and some say if you haven’t had a Rocky’s cheeseburger, you can’t truly call yourself a local.

Ty’s Burger House (Oceanside)
While the beef burger is a treat indeed, it’s the wild game options that excite the customers. The sign outside is a bit non-descript, but trust the address and go inside to taste some buffalo. Or you can ask for the ostrich or kick it up with some kangaroo. If those foodie fantasies are too exotic for your taste buds, go big with Ty’s 2X4, a straight-up stack of amazing meat with toppings galore. The bacon mac & cheese creation is addictive, too, and the sweet potato fries make for a solid side.

Pure Burger (Carlsbad)
San Diego natives have a commitment to healthy choices and their love for burgers doesn’t have to negate nutrition. Options at Pure Burgers are ground fresh daily and are never frozen. They’re grilled to perfection and served with local veggies, with gluten-free buns and the fries cooked in non-GMO rice bran oil. Vegans are not left out here, as the double veggie burger is also a hit.
 

Trish Sanderson is the community manager and marketing director for Yelp North County San Diego. She leads the local community of Yelp reviewers both online and off.

Visitors to La Mesa’s Downtown Village can now enjoy free parking in the area known for its little antique shops, local businesses and restaurants – at least for now.

On Sept. 9, the La Mesa City Council voted to make all metered parking spots in the Downtown Village free in an effort to encourage shopping in the area while the City of La Mesa undertakes a $5.8 million renovation project to improve infrastructure along La Mesa Boulevard.

The free parking is being implemented on a trial basis, which begins Oct. 15, according to the city council. It will last through the end of the year, meaning free parking during the holiday season.

The two-hour and four-hour parking limits will remain enforced throughout this free parking period in order to encourage turnover of the spaces.

In January 2015, the La Mesa City Council will evaluate the effectiveness of the free parking concept and then decide whether or not to extend it through the duration of the renovation, which could last through December 2015.

According to City of La Mesa officials, the Downtown Village Streetscape Improvement Project will progress through each block of the Village through the rest of this year and next year, renovating sewer and electrical infrastructure, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, street lighting, trees and roadways along the way.

The first portion of the renovation project – upgrading La Mesa Boulevard’s southern block between Palm Avenue and 3rd Street – was completed on Oct. 3. City officials said work will now move on to side streets including Palm and Acacia avenues.

About 20 percent of the renovation project is being funded with parking revenues, officials said.

By the way, La Mesa’s Downtown Village is home to dozens of businesses, including Antique Alley, Johnny B’s Burgers and Brews, Trolley Stop Deli, Hoffer’s Cigar Bar, the Aubrey Rose Tea Room, Cosmo’s Coffee Café and Bo-Beau Kitchen + Garden, among many, many others.
 

Who’s Number 1? According to the latest NFL.com power rankings, it’s the Chargers.

NFL writer Elliot Harrison ranked them tops in his weekly poll, moving them up two spaces past the Cincinnati Bengals, who were last week’s top team. They also passed the Arizona Cardinals – the only team to beat the Bolts this season – after the Cards got blown out in Denver last week.

That’s what you get when you have a four-game winning streak and share the best record in the league (4-1).

Said Harrison of the Chargers: “Some of the plays (quarterback Philip) Rivers made Sunday were just ridiculous, whether it was shaking off a sack and converting a third-and-17 or delivering an absolute dime of a touchdown pass to Antonio Gates. #stillMVP”

Rivers said he doesn’t put too much stock in accolades, especially this early in the season.

“That just comes with winning,” he said. “It’s just like the rankings in college football. They really don’t mean much. … It can be an outside distraction.”

For what it’s worth, the Bolts are ranked No. 3 in the latest ESPN power rankings. In the comments, ESPN said: "If not already, start taking these guys seriously."

They are No. 4 on the Fivethirtyeight.com rankings – which is a site started by stats guru Nate Silver. That same site predicts them winning 10.8 games  this season based on multiple season simulations.

USA Today ranks the Bolts No. 3.

The Chargers are eighth in the league in points per game (26.6) and are allowing the fewest points in the league on defense (12.6 per game)

Chargers safety Brandon Flowers said he isn’t concerned what the rest of the country is saying about the Bolts.

“We don’t need national attention,” he said. “As long as we keep stacking wins.”

The Chargers play the Oakland Raiders (0-4) this week, ranked dead last in just about everybody's poll.

The Indiana teen who captured video of a police officer smashing the window of his mom's car and using a stun gun on her boyfriend said he hit "record" because he was scared and felt something wasn't right about the situation he was witnessing from the backseat.

"I was scared for my family. I was scared for my little sister, because she was in the back with me," 14-year-old Joseph Ivy said Tuesday night, a day after his mother filed a federal lawsuit against the Hammond police officers involved.

The lawsuit alleges Hammond police officers used excessive force and committed a false arrest and battery after they pulled Lisa Mahone over on Sept. 24.

Ivy's video, released to the public late Monday, shows a conversation between Mahone, her boyfriend Jamal Jones and officers about an unworn seatbelt and identification. When Jones declined to exit the vehicle, as officers asked, they used a tool to shatter the window, dragged him out and shocked him twice with a Taser.

The incident left the children fearful. Joseph's younger sister Janiya, 8, is heard in the video crying during the height of the ordeal.

"I want them to hear her crying so they could feel bad, because what if somebody was doing that to their kid?" Joseph explained.

Hammond Police Lt. Richard Hoyda said in a statement that the officers acted within the law.

"In general, police officers who make legal traffic stops are allowed to ask passengers inside of a stopped vehicle for identification and to request that they exit a stopped vehicle for the officer’s safety without a requirement of reasonable suspicion," he said, adding that the officers feared for their own safety because Jones reportedly dropped his hands behind the vehicle's center console.

Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States, died Wednesday in a Dallas hospital after a weeks-long battle that tested public health officials' defenses against the deadly virus and triggered a scramble to contain it.

Duncan died Wednesday morning at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, two weeks after he first fell ill and more than three weeks after he contracted the disease Ein his home country of Liberia. He is believed to have been infected when he helped carry a dying woman to the hospital there.

"His suffering is over. My family is in deep sadness and grief, but we leave him in the hands of God," his girlfriend Louise Troh, whom he had reportedly come to the U.S. to marry, said in a statement. "Eric was a wonderful man who showed compassion toward all."

The hospital said he died at 7:51 a.m. local time Wednesday morning of the "insidious" illness. "He fought courageously in this battle," it said.

Duncan traveled from his hometown of Monrovia, Liberia, on Sept. 19, days after neighbors said he helped take a woman dying of Ebola to the hospital.

His brother in Phoenix, Arizona, told The Associated Press that Duncan headed to Dallas to be with his girlfriend and child. He said he did not believe Duncan knew he had Ebola before he left Liberia.

Duncan went to the hospital on Sept. 25 with a temperature of 100.1 degrees. He told the nurse he had recently traveled to Dallas from Liberia, the hospital acknowledged, but he was sent home with antibiotics when he would have been most contagious.

He returned to the hospital in an ambulance days later, on Sept. 28, was diagnosed with Ebola and was put in isolation, where he was treated with an experimental drug.

Four people living in a Dallas apartment where Duncan was staying when he fell ill, including his girlfriend with whom he has a son, are being monitored for signs of the virus as part of a 21-day court-ordered quarantine. So are dozens of other people who may have come into contact with him.

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, a top local official responsible for the county's disaster and emergency preparedness operations, said in a statement that his thoughts are with "the family and friends of Thomas Eric Duncan at this time, especially his fiancée Louise, their son Karsiah and all those who loved him."

"We are also thinking of the dedicated hospital staff who assisted Mr. Duncan daily while he fought this terrible disease," he said. "We offer prayers of comfort and peace to everyone impacted by his passing."

While many people were focused on the medical aspect of this case, Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner Dr. David Lakey acknowledged the family's personal battle.

"They have our sincere condolences, and we are keeping them in our thoughts," Lakey said.

Duncan's death Wednesday raised concerns among officials about health care workers' safety as they handle his remains.

Contact with the body of a person who died of Ebola can be dangerous, since the virus can survive in bodily fluids so long as they remain wet and at room temperature. The Centers for Disease Control has given guidance for how to handle an Ebola victim's body safely.

Any hospital employees who handle the body of someone who died of Ebola must wear personal protective equipment, including a scrub suit, cap, gown over the suit, eye protection, face mask and more. They must remove the equipment in a prescribed manner and wash their hands very carefully.

The body of a person who died of Ebola must be wrapped in multiple leak-proof plastic bags and disinfected, according to CDC guidelines. The body must be cremated or immediately buried in a sealed casket, and mortuary personnel must take the same precautions as hospital personnel.

"We’ll continue every effort to contain the spread of the virus and protect people from this threat,” Lakey said.