Texas officials have said that a Dallas Ebola victim will be cremated, following his death on Wednesday.

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, they will be following detailed instructions from the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) on the handling of the remains of Thomas Eric Duncan.

The detailed guidelines recommend including enclosing the body in two bags and disinfecting the bags, after which the body can be transported without the need for protective gear.

Duncan, the first man to be diagnosed with the deadly virus while in the United States, passed away on Wednesday morning.

“This is a difficult time for the family, and our thoughts are with them,” said Dr. David Lakey, the Texas health commissioner. “We will continue to treat Mr. Duncan with dignity and respect, and we’re taking great care to make sure there is no additional risk that others could be infected.“

After preparing and disinfecting the body, the remains will be cremated. CDC guidelines say remains infected with Ebola can be cremated or “buried promptly in a hermetically sealed casket.” Duncan’s family has agreed to his cremation.

According to a statement from the Texas Department of State Health Services, the cremation process will “kill any virus in the body so the remains can be returned to the family. No protective gear is needed to handle the remains after cremation.”

Mr. Duncan’s family has experienced a personal and profound loss. Full statement: http://t.co/ZWKXeLuGap

— TexasHealthResources (@texashealth) October 8, 2014

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