Blood of survivors for treating Ebola emerges in black market

Reports have it that a “treatment” for the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease has emerged but it is not a drug like ZMapp and the rest. It is made from the blood of survivors of the disease is being traded on the black market in West Africa.

Bloomberg News reported that “convalescent serum” is made from survivors' blood, which contains antibodies that could help fight the virus.

This development was no doubt sparked up by last week’s advice of the World Health Organisation that the blood of survivors could be used to treat patients.

About half of the people infected during the current outbreak have survived, providing a potential pool of donors.

The WHO is developing a system where blood from survivors of the disease can be drawn out safely and re-injected into patients.

An Ebola survivor, Dr Kent Brantly, recently donated blood to a fellow American aid worker, infected with the disease, Dr Rick Sacra.

Dr. Kent Brantly after recovering

Health experts have however warned the black market serums could contain other harmful infections as the World Health Organisation vowed to work with governments to stamp out the illicit trade.
 
 According to Margaret Chan, director-general of the WHO, “There is a danger that such serums could contain other infections and wouldn’t be administered properly”.

Over 2,400 people have died from the Ebola virus in recent months and almost 4,700 people have been infected, making it the largest outbreak in history.

There are no approved drugs to treat the disease but some are currently undergoing clinical trials.

The survivors were given intravenous fluids, blood transfusions and antibiotics to bolster their immune systems and help fight off other infections.

The WHO is developing a system where blood from survivors of the disease can be drawn out safely and re-injected into patients.

Read the initial report on WHO's advice; Ebola: Blood of survivors to be used as cure