Utah Doctor Clears Up Misconceptions About Ebola Virus And The Serum Used To Treat Two Americans
(KUTV) One Utah doctor is trying to clear up misconceptions about Ebola and the serum used on the two Americans infected with the deadly disease.

Dr. Timothy Sullivan is an immunologist at MckayDee Hospital in Ogden with Intermountain Health Care. He believes hospitals in the states need to be concerned and ready for this deadly disease.

"If we are not really alert, it could be a serious problem for us," Sullivan said.

There are two specific points of weakness he sees including airports and the Southern U.S. Border.

"We are told 'don't worry if the guy next to you on the airplane is about to die from Ebola, just don't touch him,'" said Sullivan.

The disease is spread through bodily fluids much like with HIV/Aids, but that may not be the whole story. Sullivan points to a study where Ebola infected pigs that were kept alongside monkeys. The two animals did not have any physical contact and yet the monkeys still came down with Ebola. Also at issue: The U.S. Mexico border where in recent months immigrants from Liberia and Sierra Leone have walked into the country.

Sullivan believes it is "possible that we will have cases brought into the United States." Because the disease symptoms look a lot like the flu and other diseases, it could be mistaken until it is too late and has been spread.

One third of all Ebola cases are attributed to the caregivers trying to take care of those with the disease. It is important to note the two Americans flown to the U.S. for treatment were wearing protective gear while treating patients and still contracted the deadly disease.

There is, however, good news in the form of an antiserum. The serum appears to be working on the two aid workers from the U.S. Dr. Sullivan says he has it on good authority "that unambiguously within an hour had major effect on Dr. Brantley."

Brantley was reportedly near death with labored breathing and a rash, but within an hour of taking his dose of the serum, he was breathing normally. The next morning, he showered on his own and days later walked unassisted into the hospital in Atlanta.

"The likelihood that was a spontaneous recovery in my estimation was zero," said Sullivan.

There is, however, more than one problem. There were only three doses of the serum made in a tiny medical lab in California with less a dozen employees. The concern now is how long the serums’ results will last. It could wear off in a week and the virus could creep back. It could also be the "cure all" with no additional treatment needed. The serum previously only tested on a handful of monkeys leaves the open ended question of: What will happen next?

Dr. Sullivan calls the antiserum "a very, very sophisticated tool these folks have developed."

To create the serum, mice were infected with Ebola. The mice antibodies were extracted and attached to human cells so they would not be rejected by the human body. Those multifaceted antibodies were then injected into tobacco plants infecting them with the original Ebola virus and the mouse/human components. An extract from the infected tobacco plants creates the serum which is now gone. Until a new crop can be grown there is no way to continue the treatment that appears to be successful to date.

There has been some criticism that two white Americans were given the serum while the thousands now left in Africa have been left to die.

According to Sullivan that is not the case. The two aid workers were the most likely candidates who were able to give their consent to take an unproven drug that could have killed them. It is also important to note there is no more serum until more plants can be grown, which could take months. Even Dr. Sullivan admits, "two months means an awful lot of dead people."

There is hope thanks to a team of scientists who were unafraid of government regulation.

"It took courage because if you make the FDA mad at you, it may take you 120 years to get your drug approved," said Sullivan.

The serum circumvented human trials or government approval and was sent straight to Africa where the two Americans were given the untested serum. Many doctors serving as pundits on news programs have said there is little to prove it works. Sullivan, who has worked with antibodies his entire career, calls it "proven science,"

There are companies worldwide working on a vaccine, but Sullivan believes that may not be the best bet. He says trying to immunize mass numbers in third world countries is next to impossible with a language barrier, spread out villages and no regular medical visits. Sullivan says treating pockets of the disease would be possible.

With this serum, Sullivan believes it may stop the spread of Ebola where it does pop up. He expects that the company that created the serum will keep making more and provide it without charge to the countries with the outbreak. The company can then eventually make their money by selling it to the U.S. government for stockpiles that may be used to stop a spread of the disease if it were spread as a biological terror agent.

http://kutv.com/news/top-stories/stories/utah-doctor-clears-up-misconceptions-ebola-virus-serum-used-treat-two-americans-13034.shtml

i just hope these evil virus can just stop.

That means many shall still die as there is limited quantity produced. We need divine intervention in this issue.

Nigeria - Bitter kola.
US - Tobbacco.
.
Bitter kola, Tobacco. . . Any similarity?