In fact, it might be very effective but the side effects might be horrible. Some of the antiretroviral drugs that people take might be effective but they cause other things, they cause cancer, all sorts of things, so, it has not been approved and they need to check all sorts of things, they have to weigh the pros and cons, if the negative effects are more than the positive, they will not approve it
August 5, 2014 – The Lagos State Government has said that the Federal and state governments are in touch with ZMapp Pharmaceutical Inc., the San Diego-based pharmaceutical company that produced ZMapp, a drug which is currently being deployed by University of Emory Hospital in the US to treat Dr. Kenth Brantley and Nancy Writebol, two Americans, infected with Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
At a press conference in Lagos Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris explained that though Zmapp produced from tobacco plant remains an experimental drug, government is in touch with the manufacturers and exploring possibilities as it relates to usage.
“It is not in full scale usage because it still undergoing research and research goes through different procedures”, Idris said adding that it was the remnant of what was used during experiment with monkeys that was deployed on those infected.
“So that is one drug that has not been approved but they have the gut to use it because either ways they have nothing to lose, and it worked”, he said, noting that the authorities in the US will have to weigh the pros and cons to ensure that it will not be dangerous for people before approving it.
“In fact, it might be very effective but the side effects might be horrible. Some of the antiretroviral drugs that people take might be effective but they cause other things, they cause cancer, all sorts of things, so, it has not been approved and they need to check all sorts of things, they have to weigh the pros and cons, if the negative effects are more than the positive, they will not approve it”, Idris said.
Earlier Idris reiterated that the female doctor from First Consultant that tested positive to EVD after treating the late Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian that died from the disease is not dead but alive.
He said she is currently being quarantined at Lagos Island where she is being treated.
