August 5, 2014 – ZMapp, an experimental drug produced by Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc., based in San Diego, California, United States may just bring about the needed revolution in the quest to combat the dread Ebola Virus Disease(EVD) which has killed 729 people in West Africa since February 2014, when the disease broke out in the region.
Mapp Biopharmaceutical is a small pharmaceutical company with just about nine workers. The drug which is said to be effective against infected monkeys was deployed in the treatment of Dr. Kenth Brantely at Emory University Hospital who is said to be responding to the treatment.
Another American working in Serving In Mission (SIM) Doctors Without Borders, Nancy Writebol is also due in America where he will also receive doses of the drugs.
Brantly was flown into America August 2 shortly after receiving a dose of the drug in Liberia and reportedly walked into Emory University Hospital unaided.
Each patient received at least one dose of ZMapp in Liberia before coming to the U.S., according to Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, adding that the doses are scarce and that it is not clear how many each patient would need for treatment.
This revelation is coming even as Nigerian authorities have dismissed claims that bitter kola is also effective against the ailment said to have no cure at the moment.
“Bitter Kola does not cure Ebola”, Commissioner for Health Lagos State, Dr. Jide Idris said at a press conference.
