[Ben Mugged]

If that was his plan, why didn't he push back on the 26th, when Dr. Feelgood sent him home with an antibiotic prescription, having failed to take the Liberia hint?

Hope. Simple as that. The American doctors diagnosed him with a simple infection and not wanting to face the truth he went home with antibiotics. That is until he got much worse.

[cynwoody]

It would be interesting to know when he made his travel plans. His exposure was on the 15th.

He departed on the 19th. How long does it take to get a US visa? A quick check of Kayak indicates you can do Monrovia to Brussels on 5 October for $1096 and Brussels to Dallas for another $1215 ...

Or did he have his visa lined up and his ticket bought long ago?

He apparently quit his job as a driver for a local FedEx contractor on 4 September.