Ebola News

Some good news has finally appeared in this terrifying epidemic. It seems that no one else has developed the disease from Mr Duncan in Texas; and Nigeria announced that they have had no cases in the past 21 days; meaning it is likely gone form that country. As well, some evidence has arisen that intensive re-hydration may decrease the mortality by a significant factor.

In terms of treatment, the experimental antibodies ZMapp seems to be very effective in monkeys. Unfortunately these are grown in modified tobacco plants and take several months to produce. They work by decreasing the total virus count and allowing the body to fight the infection.

People who have been cured develop antibodies which can last 10 years (hence the transfusions of their serum into sick patients). The NIH was close to finding an effective vaccine in 2001 when funding to this (and many other medical projects) was drastically cut in order for us to pay lower taxes. I'm sure Mr Duncan would have been happy to pay a few extra dollars.

In any case, researchers are now close to being able to create an effective vaccine. Accelerated animal testing has been successful and we should hopefully have a working vaccine within a year.