₦airaland Forum

I just couldn't help saying this...

Yesterday, rumors circulating Aba had it that the said woman checked in at a hospital but was referred to another hospital. On arrival at the second hospital, the nurses noticed the ebola like symptoms and fled.

Safety pays.

Two American missionary workers infected with the
deadly Ebola virus were given an experimental drug
that seems to have saved their lives.
Dr. Kent Brantly was given the medication, ZMapp,
shortly after telling his doctors he thought he would
die, according to a source familiar with his case. Within
an hour, doctors say his symptoms -- labored
breathing and a widespread rash -- dramatically
improved. Nancy Writebol, another missionary
working with Samaritan's Purse, received two doses of
the medication and has also shown significant
improvement, sources say.
As there is no proven treatment and no vaccine for
Ebola, this experimental drug is raising lots of
questions.

1. Who makes the drug?
The drug was developed by the biotech firm Mapp
Biopharmaceutical Inc., which is based in San Diego.
The company was founded in 2003 "to develop novel
pharmaceuticals for the prevention and treatment of
infectious diseases, focusing on unmet needs in global
health and biodefense," according to its website.
Mapp Biopharmaceutical has been working with the
National Institutes of Health and the Defense Threat
Reduction Agency, an arm of the military responsible
for countering weapons of mass destruction, to
develop an Ebola treatment for several years.

2. Are there other experimental Ebola drugs out there?
Yes. In March, the NIH awarded a five-year, $28 million
grant to establish a collaboration between researchers
from 15 institutions who were working to fight Ebola.
"A whole menu of antibodies have been identified as
potentially therapeutic, and researchers are eager to
figure out which combinations are most effective and
why," a news release about the grant said.
Tekmira, a Vancouver-based company that has a $140 million contract with the U.S. Department of Defense to
develop an Ebola drug, began Phase 1 trials with its
drug in January. But the FDA recently halted the trial,
asking for more information.
At least one potential Ebola vaccine has been tested in
healthy human volunteers, according to Thomas
Geisbert, a leading researcher at the University of
Texas Medical Branch. And last week, the NIH
announced a safety trial of another Ebola vaccine will
start as early as September.

3. How does ZMapp work?
Antibodies are proteins used by the immune system to
mark and destroy foreign, or harmful, cells. A
monoclonal antibody is similar, except it's engineered
in a lab so it will attach to specific parts of a dangerous
cell, according to the Mayo Clinic, mimicking your
immune system's natural response. Monoclonal
antibodies are used to treat many different types of
conditions.
Sources told CNN the medicine given to Brantly and
Writebol abroad was a three-mouse monoclonal
antibody, meaning that mice were exposed to
fragments of the Ebola virus and then the antibodies
generated within the mice's blood were harvested to
create the medicine.
However, the drug can also be produced with proteins
made from tobacco plants. ZMapp manufacturer
Kentucky BioProcessing in Owensboro has been
working with Samaritan's Purse and Emory University
Hospital to provide limited quantities of the drug to
Emory, according to company spokesman David
Howard.

4. Why did American missionary workers get the drug?
Many have asked why these two workers received the
experimental drug when so many -- around 1,600 --
others in West Africa also have the virus.
The World Health Organization says it was not involved
in the decision to treat Brantly and Writebol. Both
patients had to give consent to receive the drug,
knowing it had never been tested in humans before.
The process by which the medication was made
available to the American patients may have fallen
under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's
"compassionate use" regulation, which allows access
to investigational drugs outside clinical trials.

5. Did doctors know it would work?
No. The drug had shown promise in primates, but even
in those experiments, just eight monkeys received the
treatment. In any case, the human immune system can
react differently than primates', which is why drugs are
required to undergo human clinical trials before being
approved by government agencies for widespread use.
The two Americans' cases will be studied further to
determine how the drug worked with their immune
systems.

6. Will the drug be made available to other Ebola
patients?
It's unclear. Rolling out an untested drug during a
massive outbreak would be very difficult, Doctors
Without Borders said in a statement. Experimental
drugs typically not mass-produced, and tracking the
success of such a drug if used would require extra
medical staff where resources are already scarce.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of
Allergy and Infectious Diseases, says scientists have to
be careful about assuming this drug will work in other
patients as it appears to have worked in Brantly.
"Having worked with administering antibodies for
people for a really long time, that would be distinctly
unusual," he told CNN. "As we all know in medicine ...
you have to withhold judgment."

7. Does the company have more vials of the drug?
The company has very few doses ready for patient use,
Fauci told CNN.
"(Kentucky BioProcessing) is working closely with
Mapp, various government agencies, and other parties
to increase production of ZMapp, but this process will
take several months," Howard said.

8. Who paid for the drug and how much did it cost?
We don't know. Samaritan's Purse covered the cost of
Brantly and Writebol's evacuations but did not pay for
the drug, according to a spokesman.
When a patient gets an experimental drug, the drug
company can donate the product under
compassionate use. Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc.
might have done that in this case.
Health insurance companies typically do not pick up
the tab for treatments that have not been approved by
the FDA. But they usually would cover the cost of any
doctor fees associated with giving the drug and any
costs associated with monitoring how the drug is
working.

9. Would this drug stop the Ebola epidemic?
If it were widely available, it certainly couldn't hurt. An
effective Ebola drug could help doctors treat the deadly
virus, which is killing about 60% of the people infected
in West Africa. But a vaccine would be a much more
effective tool in stopping this, and future, epidemics.
Vaccines are given to healthy people to prevent them
from ever becoming infected. One challenge with
Ebola, experts say, is that companies don't believe they
could make much money from developing a vaccine,
so few companies show interest.

Source: www.cnnmobile.com/primary/fullarticle?topic=newsarticle&category=intlbusiness&articleId=urn:newsml:CNN.com:20140804:ebola-drug-questions:1#page2

Inosenduatall: Hey guys, I've seen quite a number of job interview experience threads in the annals of the Job Section of Nairaland and I thought to myself, "why not start a fresh one? A 2014 and beyond thread." With so many Job postings and shortlistings and invites here and there I think we will have quite a number of stories to share.

I will go first.

So I got a call to come for an interview at a major media firm on the Island in Lagos the next day. It was a surprise call because I had forwarded my unsolicited CV to them and forgotten about it. I travelled very early around 6am the next day from Ife in Osun state to V.I to meet the appointment which was scheduled for 11am. I got there in record time and was blown away by the cool AC and the elevator in the premises (forgive me, i'm a bit of a bush man). We were about 20 who were called for the job and most of the guys were wearing suit and tie while the ladies were looking really sophisticated. Na only me waka come o, with long sleeved shirt on jeans with sneakers. I didn't think I needed to wear a suit, no be media industry again? I sat down, and so the wait began. I spent the hours reading the John Grisham novel I brought along with me and ignoring the rumbling in my stomach. Soon it was my turn to enter the conference room. I was faced with a panel of 5 interviewers, all big shots and famous people in the industry. I had only just finished my last paper and hadn't even done my project defense, talkless of NYSC. I began to wonder what I was doing, and whether my coming here was a big big mistake. Still, composure is everything.

"What is your work experience?" I told them, even though they each had a copy of my CV in their hands.

"What are you bringing to the table?" My wealth of experience and my unique personality for the purpose of increasing 'our' fan base and listenership and maximizing efficiency and productivity (something along those lines).

"Have you ever worked at a radio station before?" Honestly, no. But I have an independent programme that has an enviable fan base. Perhaps, I could bring the programme and its fans on your platform when I start work here.

"And who said you are going to work here?" Don't mind me sir, I'm only speaking with faith. I always prefer to see the glass as half full than half empty.

Then I was asked to present a programme on the spot for five minutes which came pretty easily to me.

Followed by tests in diction and emphatic stress in the lines of:

ARE you a he-goat?

Are YOU a he-goat?

Are you A he-goat?

Are you a HE-GOAT?

That was the tricky part but I aced that followed by many other trick questions. Another thing I employed to my advantage was my use of humour. Somehow I always found a way to make my interviewers laugh or smile which endeared me to them. When I left the conference room, one of the interviewers, a big shot in the industry whom I had always admired passively, laughed and called me an opportunist, to which I just smiled and said:

"Don't mind me sir. It's the work of the devil."

Needless to say I got called for the second stage of the interview. This is where my story stops for now. Wouldn't want it to get too lengthy but would post the subsequent part of the story as the thread progresses.

It's 2014! Our year of triumph and endless successes and unbelievable breakthroughs. Kindly state your job interview experiences here so we can enjoy your story and share in your ups and downs, as it promises to be a highly enjoyable and rewarding learning experience for everybody, myself inclusive.

Oya!

@OP Forgive my asking, are u Yaw?
Because your interview experience is strikingly similar to his.

nwawuweneonye: Nothing they say is permanent except...

You've been defending your actions. Ok, keep up with your nefarious activities... *in yuzedo's voice* one day potatoes will potate.

nwawuweneonye: Poor u! A banker with an M.Sc degree already
Don't be quuick to judge next time.

I thought your degree says you've been found worthy in character and learning...smh. Do the needful, return those certs. Shior.

By Nigerian law, yes. In francophone countries, no.

ITbomb: First tell your wife to understand that she is married and stop the communications, then ask her to call him with her phone and tell the ex that her husband wants to speak with him. Tell him you want no interference in your marriage that if he was that good he should have married her.

If your wife did this behind you it would have been better but to do it in front of you is just not good.

Comprehension aint difficult u know? Gademit.

Dude...don't mind these folks calling u a coward. You did a very sensible thing by not getting involved in a brawl...else how would u face the girl's parents if tomorrow you decided to get serious with her tomorrow? Yes, you guys may be friends with benefit today but might decide to take things to the next level tomorrow.
My take: if I were in ur shoes, I'd have walked away from the scene like you did..... but pay the guy a visit the very next day *Al pacino style*. I wouldn't be surprised if the cousin in question goes begging her on his knees. Not bluffing.

Do this else you are what they've called u here.....,A COWARD.

Forgive my grammar...

SMH @ whoever drew this map. Y'all calling for the breakup of this nation don't know a thing or two abt 9ja.
So if you sit on a coy's board and things ain't working right, you liquidate it, right? Where's your sense of ingenuity and leadership?
We need real leadership in this country and that ain't impossible to get.
By the way if you want out, renounce your citizenship.

No, it is not necessary. A ring is just another piece of jewellery. What matters most is the sincerity and love between both partners.
For those gals dreaming of prince charming and diamond studded rings, FYI Prince Williams dont even have a wedding ring.

Donalð Genes: I don't believe this drap

Dude, you better believe it because it's so true. 2012 batch A, Kwara camp, a married lady was booted for having s£& with some young dude in the bush.

My batch, the commandant asked if we wanted condoms to be shared...but seemed to have a rethink after consulting with other camp officials.

I believe it's a good thing you spoke up. Believe me, lots of women are facing similar predicaments in the hands of nosy extended-family members and you are speaking up for them! Much as we love and appreciate our extended family, couples should know when to draw the red line.

Twitter shares now @ $45.10 as I type...talk about making 73% profit in a short time. Sceptics might be wary of twitter because of what happened in Facebook but any investor with financial intelligence can spot the difference.

Looking forward to the day Nairaland will make use of its potential and be listed on the NSE.

Harbosede02: *hisses*

Didn't you read the topic?
@OP Couldn't have been better said.

That's because some men find these pay girls intriguing, wild and wouldnt mind going all length to tame 'em. But good girls are kinda docile and some men don't really want that. It's their natural inclination.
My take: Be yourself sweety.

23rd Oct. Guess we October peeps are products of some valentine gig. happy birthday y'all!

@op Your boyfriend's threat shows your relationship has gone a lil bit toxic but guess who brought in d toxic fumes?...you!
Your present is just your rebound guy....(smh for him). Your actions, intended actions and defence of your naive actions here on NL show you're still into your ex. Go and come back when you are ready for a real relationship. Thank you!

Bludeville: what she simply means is you have no money, you have no swags, I have other chykers with one or both. If you ever get rich and get some swags, don't forget me because I'm putting you on reserve...

Babe! Are you a rap artiste? You words had a natural flow. #SteadyRhymes.

So y'all where busy frolicking in London while your parents did nothing to improve the education system in Nigeria. You are a 'governor's daughter' my foot (that one na title?). You are lucky this is not China.

All you guys looking down on the NA due to your inferiority complex, pls name three major war campaigns the US marine corp brought to a successful completion in the last fifty years.
It's a shame when folks come online to spew rubbish and make light of officers trained to lay down their lives for their country. For once be proud of your men and women in uniform. While you were busy snoring in the 90's these gentlemen were soldiering in Sierra leone, Liberia, Sudan, Congo and within the country. Pls respect them but if it's difficult, stick to what you know.

chymystique: Dt Man wearing white Agbada is as Black as.................. .. Who is he pls??

That's Yuzedo.

I'd advice you go into manufacturing. Plastics production will keep you smiling to the bank. You'll be needing injection, blow molding and extrusion machines. Type of plastics you could produce include engine oil containers, cream, powder containers etc and ofcourse their caps. Call me on 08033949389 to thank me later.

I aint suprised. Afterall wikipedia says she's the richest black woman in the world.

1. Never ever say to your boss, "You are fired!". You won't like the consequence.

@op {In Mufasa's voice} You ask for reason? Some things are beyond explanation my dear. A trial will convince you.

This is simply outrageous. It's a pity the emir decided to stoop so low and bring his office to the mud. I can't imagine the Obas of Lagos and Benin or the Obi of Onithsha doing same. Why withdraw the girl from school? Why hold her hostage? If anyone decides to change his religion then so be it! For godsake this is a free country. Besides, if the emir needs a new bride he should go through the appropriate channel. Holding someone in your palace is nothing short of kidnap! I'm concerned about the claim of the girl's father that there are other girls in the emir's custody. Do we have to kick the police in their behind before they investigate this? MODs, same for you if don't put this on the fp.

First, congratulations on your scholarship. While your girlfriend's request might not be appropriate, on second thought I think you should oblige her request but you must take out time to study her and see if she's worth sharing such vital info with.
Caveat: She's still a girl friend not your wife.

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