There is still Hope for Ebola Patients

Health workers have hailed reported success of the experimental drug, ZMapp, on Ebola infected American doctor, Dr Kent Brantly and American Missionary Health worker, Ms. Nancy Writebol.

Within an hour of receiving ZMapp, the Ebola-infected Dr. Brantly’s condition dramatically improved. He was said to have began breathing easier; the rash over his trunk faded away. One of his doctors described the events that followed after he was given the drug as “miraculous.”

The female health worker, Ms. Writebol, also received a vial of the medication. Although her response was not as remarkable at first, doctors administered a second dose of the drug on her again on Sunday, and this time it resulted in significant improvement...

A medical doctor, Dr Osahon Enabulele, noted that with over 1,600 persons in the West African sub-region so far infected with the Ebola virus and a death toll of over 887 (as at August 1, 2014), it is heart-warming that some experimental drugs for treatment of Ebola viral disease such as ZMapp and BCX4430 have shown great potential.

He said that the case of the dramatic clinical improvement shown by Dr. Brantly following administration of an experimental drug strengthens the hope of finding an effective drug for the treatment of Ebola virus.

Also in his remarks, the national president, Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), Dr Godswill Okara, described the Zmapp drug it as a welcome development.

He said the good result recorded from the use of the drugs on the two Americans is good and encouraging.

According to him, it’s naturally expedient to use the drugs considering the magnanimity of the problem at hand, adding that it was normal at this instance to err on the side of caution.