President Obama Says Ebola Cure Is Not Ready For Africa

monjola sotubo

August 7, 2014 11:33 AM

Two American aid workers who got infected in Liberia showed improvement when they were given the experimental drug

Calls for the United States to send some of the experimental Ebola drug to West Africa have been shot down by President Barack Obama.

President Obama has said that it is still too soon to send the drug, Zmapp to Africa to treat infected people. The secret serum came to light when it was used to treat two American aid workers who got infected while treating sick people in Liberia.

One of them, Kent Brantly showed significant improvement one hour after being given the drug while the other, Nancy Writebol got better after 2 doses.

Obama however said that efforts in West Africa should focus on improving facilities and sending more aid workers to the region.

He said:

"We've got to let the science guide us," "I don't think all the information is in on whether this drug is helpful. What we do know is that the Ebola virus - both currently and in the past - is controllable if you have strong public health infrastructure in place."

"Let's get all the health workers that we need on the ground," he added. "Let's help to bolster the systems that they already have in place.

"During the course of that process, I think it's entirely appropriate for us to see if there are additional drugs or medical treatments (that can help)."

The Nigerian Health Minister, Onyebuchi Chukwu disclosed earlier that he had discussed with the US about the possibility of accessing the experimental drug ZMapp.

However the US Center for Disease Control has said that there are "virtually no doses available".

The disease has killed over 900 people since the first case was recorded in February this year.

monjola sotubo

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