Some experts say that the cure to the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa could be the blood of survivors. Though it is rather unusual, some experts are saying that it could be worth a shot.
'This is something that's fairly simple to do,' said Dr. Peter Piot, the co-discoverer of the Ebola virus.
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The antibodies in the survivors' blood could help those that are infected. Piot says that it will be vital to see if the blood of survivors will be effective.
This treatment was just one of the many discussed at the two-day meeting in Geneva that began Thursday, according to the Associated Press. Those who attended the World Health Organization's (WHO) meeting are trying to decide which treatments should be prioritized during the large outbreak in West Africa.
Around six medicines/vaccines have been designed, but only one has begun human trials. Zmapp, one of the drugs that has been developed, has been given to seven people (two of which died). However, the developer of Zmapp says that the supply has been exhausted. It will take months to make enough for further dispensing.
While vaccines are far and few, WHO says that there are thousands of survivors from past outbreaks whose blood could prove to be a cure.
The blood of survivors should still be considered as experimental, warns WHO. Studies should be done during the current outbreak to see if the blood of survivors could be the cure.
'With drugs, you can at least do some quality control,' said Tom Geisbert, an Ebola expert. 'If you're just taking blood blindly from (survivors) without testing it for antibody levels, how can we predict what outcome they will have?'
According to the Reuters, vaccines are projected to be ready in November. Until then, the blood of the survivors could prove to be effective.
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