As hospitals in nations hardest hit by Ebola struggle to keep
up, desperate patients are turning to the black market to
buy blood from survivors of the virus, the World Health
Organization warned.
The deadliest Ebola outbreak in history has killed at least
2,400 people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone — the
countries most affected by the virus.
Thousands more are infected and new cases have emerged
in Nigeria and Senegal.
Blood from survivors, referred to as convalescent serum, is
said to have antibodies that can fight the deadly virus.
Though unproven, it has provided some promise in fighting
a disease with no approved drug to treat it.
“Studies suggest blood transfusions from survivors might
prevent or treat Ebola virus infection in others, but the
results of the studies are still difficult to interpret,” the WHO
said.
“It is not known whether antibodies in the plasma of
survivors are sufficient to treat or prevent the disease. More
research is needed.”
Convalescent serum has been used to treat patients,
including American aid worker Rick Sacra, who is
hospitalized in Omaha, Nebraska. He got blood from Kent
Brantly, a fellow American who survived Ebola. Both got
infected when they were helping patients in Liberia.
But unlike their situation, patients in affected nations are
getting blood through improper channels. The illicit trade
can lead to the spread of other infections, including HIV and
other blood-related ailments.
“We need to work very closely with the affected countries to
stem out black market trading of convalescent serum for
two reasons,” Margaret Chan, WHO’s director-general, said
this week.
“Because it is in the interest of individuals not to just get
convalescent serum without … going through the proper
standard and the proper testing because it is important that
there may be other infectious vectors that we need to look
at.”
SOURCE: PUNCH NEWS

A sick man will desperatly do anything to survive.

Lies! Where are these survivors coming from? Western media always lookung for ways to make Africa and Africans look bad.

phreakabit: Lies! Where are these survivors coming from? Western media always lookung for ways to make Africa and Africans look bad.

is there anything u think a man fighting for his life can't do? dey may nt be lies.