Scientists globally are working hard on a substantive treatment for the Ebola Virus; the most recent thrust being the idea that antibodies acquired from survivors of the disease can be used to provide immunity and treatment for others.
Researchers reveal that blood samples taken from Ebola survivors after they fully recovered show certain antibodies that can neutralize the virus. This has contributed to the belief, in the world of science, that Ebola survivors will remain immune to the disease. However, it is not known if the survivors develop immunity against all strains of the virus or just the strain that they were infected with.
The WHO has flagged two strains of the virus as being the most deadly: the Sudan Virus (SUDV) and the Ebola Virus or Zaire Ebolavirus (EBOV). The two American Ebola patients who survived the disease were treated with an experimental drug which was essentially a mixture of several antibodies that target the EBOV strain. Since the two patients survived and are now thought by experts to be immune to the strain, it stands to reason that Ebola survivors may actually be immune to subsequent infections from the same virus strain.[eap_ad_2]
Dr Bruce Ribner, Director of the Infectious Disease Unit at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, has been quoted as saying: “There is strong epidemiological evidence that once an individual has resolved an Ebola virus infection, they are immune to that strain.
Assuming that Brantly and Writebol (the two American patients) continue to recover, they would not be at risk of becoming sick again with Ebola if they were to decide to return to Africa. They would probably not be at risk for infection if they were caring for patients with the Ebola disease during this outbreak.”
There are still a lot of unanswered questions surrounding the issue of a cure for Ebola. While international agencies and African governments have clearly shown commitment to containing the outbreak, it is necessary to channel more human and financial resources into the search for a definitive and substantive cure. (VENTURES AFRICA)[eap_ad_3]
