Scientists in Canada announced the successful treatment of Ebola viral infection in monkeys. The encouraging results were published in the journal Science Translational Medicine on June 13.

Researchers from the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, Manitoba identified a number of antibodies that corresponded to proteins on the shell of the Ebola virus. They combined the antibodies into a specific cocktail and administered it to four macaques within 24 hours of infection. All four macaques survived. When the cocktail was administered within 48 hours of infection, two of four macaques survived.

Why is the survival of a few monkeys such big news? Ebola hemorrhagic fever, a disease caused by infection with the Ebola virus, is one of the most deadly and little-understood diseases in the world. There is no vaccine, no standard treatment, and the origin of the virus remains unknown.

Your cheat sheet on Ebola virus

Ebola virus was first recognized in 1976 in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) in an outbreak that affected 318 people and resulted in 280 deaths. The virus and its five subtypes belong to a family of viruses called Filoviridae; only four of the five subtypes have caused disease in humans. The virus affects humans and non-human primates, but the natural reservoir of Ebola remains unknown. This means the exact origin and natural habitat of the virus are a mystery, with significant implications for treatment and prevention.

Scientists believe Ebola spreads through zoonotic transmission- that is, coming from an animal. The first patient of an Ebola outbreak is thought to be infected through contact with an infected animal. From there, the virus can spread to other humans through direct contact with blood or body fluids. Outbreaks often occur in healthcare settings (known as nosocomial transmission), as patients seek treatment in facilities where appropriate infection-control may not be practiced. The symptoms of Ebola are somewhat nonspecific at first. Within 2-21 days of exposure, patients usually experience fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, sore throat, and weakness, later followed by diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain. Some patients also experience rash, red eyes, hiccups and bleeding. From the onset of symptoms, Ebola can kill a patient within a matter of days.

There is no known treatment for Ebola in humans. Doctors can offer supportive therapy, such as hydration, oxygen and treatment of complicating infections, but mortality rates are still very high. Because the natural reservoir and origin of transmission remains unknown, there are no established methods of primary prevention. Instead, prevention efforts focus on outbreak control in healthcare settings.

There have been 28 documented outbreaks, with 2,288 human cases and 1,331 deaths. The most recent Ebola outbreak, according to the CDC, was a single case in Luwero district, Uganda in May 2011.

A cure for human Ebola infection? Not just yet.

What does this recent advance mean? Can we expect a post-exposure treatment for humans? Or better yet, a vaccine? Scientists caution this is certainly a big step forward, but many challenges remain before the treatment can be applied to an outbreak in humans. For example, the amount of antibodies needed to treat a larger group of people would be difficult to manufacture.

For a first-person account of the initial detection of the Ebola virus, listen to this interview from NPR’s Talk of the Nation with Peter Piot, a member of the 1976 team who first identified Ebola, as he discusses his memories of the discovery and his long career in virology

no salt?

Wow! Different countries are competing to be the first to produce a cure. Why weren't they like this during HIV outbreak.

Hope it's real.

http://healthmap.org/site/diseasedaily/article/did-scientists-just-discover-cure-ebola-62212

Good News. But what about our own scientists? What are all our professors and doctors in our universities and research centres doing? are they waiting for a solution from the west and then come and profess what is already discovered to the rest of us?

We are damn too intellectually lazy.

Ceasar1: Beautiful! I hope they wouldn't come greedy, looking for money.

Of course that is what they would do.

They must have added salt

The earlier the better.

Ceasar1: Beautiful! I hope they wouldn't come greedy, looking for money.

typical, when they were spending shillions on R AN D, what are we Africans doing? bearing in mind that this Ebola came to light first in
1976 in Sudan/C.A.R.
We always wait for THEM? abi

I just pray this is true

eposho:
what are we Africans doing? bearing in mind that this Ebola came to light first in 1976 in Sudan/C.A.R.
We always wait for THEM? abi

That's what we always do. We wait for them because we are too weak and corrupt inorder to unite and help ourselves.

oya,bring them to Africa

wirinet: Good News. But what about our own scientists? What are all our professors and doctors in our universities and research centres doing? are they waiting for a solution from the west and then come and profess what is already discovered to the rest of us?

We are damn too intellectually lazy.

Wey the scientist for naija? abeg... lazy is a nice word to use.

created the epidemic and will sell us the anti dote, white man using our head since 1490

wirinet: Good News. But what about our own scientists? What are all our professors and doctors in our universities and research centres doing? are they waiting for a solution from the west and then come and profess what is already discovered to the rest of us?

We are damn too intellectually lazy.

Which research centers!! Is there electricity n necessary instrument in d so-called schools! U need to knw ow much dez countries put into research. Al naija moni dey few pple accounts
Plsssss

wirinet: Good News. But what about our own scientists? What are all our professors and doctors in our universities and research centres doing? are they waiting for a solution from the west and then come and profess what is already discovered to the rest of us?

We are damn too intellectually lazy.

i thought as much. They wud only pass for spurring and observing strike. This country is damn fùcked!

Hopefully the Exalted Baale of Toto-Ronto Land in Canada, Sheikh El Musiwa Bin Satellite can authorize the seizure of this new Ebola drug, and the transport of the precious cargo to Western Nigeria's capital of Akure, where it can be sold to the public at an affordable price of just 1.5 million naira per injection.

Long Live Musiwa ! Long Live The Benin Republic of Western Nigeria !

waow!!

ednut1: created the epidemic and will sell us the anti dote, white man using our head since 1490

may u live long.

Ceasar1:

That's what we always do. We wait for them because we are too weak and corrupt inorder to unite and help ourselves.

That god you said "we" that means you included. Now to stop the trend just go and look for an ailment that don't have cure already and start researching.

OK Over To You Nokia

ednut1: created the epidemic and will sell us the anti dote, white man using our head since 1490

Is that the best excuse for our intellectual laziness? what stops us from researching and creating our own antidote for the epidemic they created, or better still why dont we create our own epidemic, infect the whites and then make money selling them the anti dote.

Why are we so helpless?

Our professors and doctors lack adequate funding, I can bet these canadians have been working on this for years.

wirinet: Good News. But what about our own scientists? What are all our professors and doctors in our universities and research centres doing? are they waiting for a solution from the west and then come and profess what is already discovered to the rest of us?

We are damn too intellectually lazy.

This is indeed good news! One step at a time, there'll be a cure soonest.

My Bitter Kola and I....


Bitter Kola Sure Pass!

Don't be deceived by it "not been scientifically proven"

olabukola: That god you said "we" that means you included. Now to stop the trend just go and look for an ailment that don't have cure already and start researching.

And who told you he is a professor or doctor in the medical field? every body has his or her area of specialization.He could be a musician, a soldier, a pilot or a banker.

The problem with us all is that we love to consume but hate to do the work to produce. So we depend on others to produce while we wait to consume what ever others produce. If they dont help us produce, we are ready do sit on our hands (or on our knees) and die.

wirinet:

And who told you he is a professor or doctor in the medical field? every body has his or her area of specialization.He could be a musician, a soldier, a pilot or a banker.

The problem with us all is that we love to consume but hate to do the work to produce. So we depend on others to produce while we wait to consume what ever others produce. If they dont help us produce, we are ready do sit on our hands (or on our knees) and die.

He said "we" which means he is included.

wirinet: Good News. But what about our own scientists? What are all our professors and doctors in our universities and research centres doing? are they waiting for a solution from the west and then come and profess what is already discovered to the rest of us?

We are damn too intellectually lazy.

Majority crammed and passed and plagiarized for their doctorates and lobbied thereafter ... Profs my foot! They are good at researching fine legs!

Validated:

Majority crammed and passed the doctorates examinations and lobbied thereafter ... Profs my foot! They are good at researching fine legs!

These are the regretful words of someone who realizes that he will NEVER in life tap as much fine university poon tang as a typical Nigerian college professor gets done in just one semester of grades-for-asz barter with female students.