The untested drug vs Ebola virus is derived from tobacco plant; to be used in Liberia

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Rizal Philippines  | August 12, 2014

It is more fun criticizing

Rizal Philippines  |  August 12, 2014

Repost from BBC news




It was featured today at Al Jazeera and Fox News that the Zmapp drug used on two American missionaries to West Africa who were infected with Ebola is being flown to  Nigeria to help combat the disease.    This may sound unethical because the patients would be guinea pigs for the drugs.

So far the disease has killed more than a thousand (1,016) out of 1, 799 infected.

The drug is made by Mapp BioPharmaceutical based in San Diego California, has not undergone clinical testing, nor has acquired FDA blessing.  But the drug was used on the two American missionaries and has made them better.  It is made from extracts of tobacco plants from Australia and its efficacy so far has been tested to be 100% on monkeys.

The drug is known as 3 mouse monoclonal antibody/

The entire supply of Zmapp has been exhausted after this shipment.  And this came at no cost to the LIberian Govt.  The shipment came after the Liberian govt Pres  Ellen Johnson appealed to the US govt.  The role of US govt has been to put into contact Zapp and the Liberian govt.

What a great humanitarian gesture.

WHO declares Ebola virus global health emergency

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Rizal Philippines |  August 11, 2014

Repost from WSJ   | August 8, 2014



WHO  headed by Dr. Margaret Chan, declared Ebola virus as a global health emergency.   This means member nations have to contribute more.  The disease appeared to be out of control and has overcome many of the health workers in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and  Guinea, some of the poorest countries in Africa.  These countries have a little semblance of public health care, and may have run of supplies to battle the disease.

Several health workers have seen surges in the volume of cases.  10 died on Friday. It takes about 8 to 20 days for the disease to incubate.  RC worker in Sierra Leone said 40 cases arrived Friday, and the numbers keep on rising, overwhelming the health workers.

Ebola has infected 1,779 which resulted in 961 deaths.  Ebola has infected 140 to 150 workers, 80 of them fatally.  Many health workers have opted not to work because of fear of infection

This is so far the largest Ebola outbreak in recent history.

Travel has been limited by companies who have invested in business in such countries.   As of late, NIgeria, a very populous country has closed border with Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.  Eight  people have been infected by lone case from the infected countries, one of them fatally

Two American aid workers infected with Ebola virus given experimental drug

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Rizal Philippines  August 5, 2014


Dr. Kent Brantly, 33 was infected in Liberia

Repost from Japan Times

Two American doctors working in Liberia vs ebola virus and who had been infected were flown  in to US in specially designed plane and have been confined in special  isolation unit  in Atlanta's Emory University Hospital.  The two are Dr. Nancy Writebol, 59  and Dr. Kent Brantly 33   Both are recovering .  Dr Nancy can now walk.

They are being given doses of Zmapp made by Mapp Pharmaceutical and this comes from tissues of  animals exposed to ebola.  It boost antibodies of patients suffering from Ebola infection (basic principle of vaccine

Dr Nancy was said to have been injected plasma from a  14 year old patient who recovered.  (Same thing we saw in movie outbreak)

Ebola is fearsome because there is no known cure vaccine vs the disease.  This could be the hope..





Special plane transported the Americans infected with Ebola virus.


Image of ebola virus infection