“A Plan to Use Survivors’ Blood for Ebola Treatment
in Africa”
By: Andrew Pollack
Source: New York Times
Scientists
have been desperately trying to find a cure to Ebola or ways to treat it temporarily.
They have found a new way that might help in their research studies. Scientists
have decided to take blood samples from previous Ebola victims, who have
recovered, in order to research the antibodies that exist in the blood. The
World Health Organization (WHO) is trying to convince all the countries
affected by Ebola to give this idea a try. The organization is also providing
guidance on how to collect blood and administer transfusions. However, the WHO
organization has realized that some countries in West Africa are not well
developed. Due to this event, they are worried about the blood banks
functioning properly during this critical period. Also, the organization is
trying to overcome the possibility of victims receiving hepatitis or H.I.V., even
after they recover. Many organizations are trying to find a treatment to Ebola
themselves or donating money to other organizations that require the money to
conduct testing. There have been few cases, where the blood transfusion was
conducted and the patients did recover. However, it is not known if the
patients recovered because from the blood transfusion or from the medical care
they had received.
Ebola is a
serious virus that can easily end peoples’ lives or place them in a hospital.
Ebola has not become widespread in America and will not seem to be a dangerous
issue to the people living here. However, the people in Africa that are
affected by Ebola are hoping that these types of research get conducted. They need
to have hope that they will get better soon.
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