An
experimental Ebola drug healed all 18 monkeys infected with the deadly virus in
a study, boosting hopes that the treatment might help fight the outbreak raging
through West Africa – once more of it can be made. The monkeys were given
the drug, ZMapp, three to five days after they were infected with the virus and
when most were showing symptoms. That is several days later than any other
experimental Ebola treatment tested so far.
The drug
also completely protected six other monkeys given a slightly different version
of it three days after infection in a pilot test. These two studies are the
first monkey tests ever done on ZMapp. The study was published online
Friday by the journal Nature. ZMapp had never been tested in humans before
two American aid workers who got Ebola while working in Africa were allowed to
try it. The rest of the limited supply was given to five others.
Ebola has
killed more than 1,500 people this year and the World Health Organization says
there could be as many as 20,000 cases before the outbreak is brought
under control. There is no approved vaccine or specific treatment, just
supportive care to keep them hydrated and nourished. Of the seven people known
to have been treated with ZMapp, two have died – a Liberian doctor and a
Spanish priest. The two Americans recovered, as have two Africans who received
ZMapp in Liberia – a Congolese doctor and a Liberian physician’s assistant who
were expected to be released from a treatment center on Friday. A British nurse
also got the drug, reportedly the two unused doses left over from treating the
Spanish priest.
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