Posted on 08/10/2014 12:46:23 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe
I have spent a little time compiling links to threads about the Ebola outbreak in the interest of having all the links in one thread for future reference.
Please add links to new threads and articles of interest as the situation develops.
Thank You all for you participation.
I have no idea how many doses of ZMapp there were. However, I do know that in antibody drug studies, the treatment for the animals involves several doses (one trial gave animals a total of 6 doses over several days). Each animal group in these studies is usually 4. I know that if I were conducting such a study, I would make enough drug to treat the animals in the planned study, plus a bit of extra.
What it looks like to me is that there was enough drug for one or two full treatment courses for an animal. It may have been left over from an animal study, not used because the animal died.
I’m figuring maybe 6, but less than 10, vials existed—enough for full treatment of one animal—3 went to Brantly and Writebol, two to Liberia, one to Spain and one to Britain. One of those last could be the 3rd vial sent to Brantly and Writebol.
Given that this drug is produced in tobacco plants, making more will be slow (but they are working on it). If they were using cells or mice, making more would go a lot more quickly.
As for how early in the infection the treatment must be administered, the answer is, the earlier, the better. The problem with the experimental treatments is that the prototype drugs are typically tested soon after challenge with virus, and never when the animal has full symptomatic disease.
Everything I have said (except for the speculative statements) is based on references found in PubMed.
7 days since last casualty reporting from the WHO. Longest gap in reporting since June, when this was still your garden variety Ebola outbreak, with variations.
Word is that Congo has 500 or more cases. French are reporting that. Conjecture.
They’ve lost the grip on the situation.
Whoa.
They’re probably trying to figure out how to report this then in such a way that won’t instill panic.
I understand all that.
I was referting to the ‘this is the last dose, we are out!’
Followed by ‘so and so is receiving ZMapp!’.
Followed by ‘that was really the last dose, we’re really out now!’.
Followed by ‘so and so is receiving ZMapp!’.
etc.
They should rip the Band-Aid off, no pun intended. Just report it, let the panic happen, and roll in the resources you need to wall off Africa.
It sure looks that way.
Very interesting, thanks.
So if I am understanding correctly, it would seem that none of those who received the serum were given the full amount of doses that comprises the full treatment plan.
According to Dr. Niman on flutrackers, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs indicates there are 565 possible cases in the DRC. That was a few days ago.
Who knows how many there are now.
I don’t think the numbers that have been reported from the West Africa outbreak are anywhere near accurate. Ken Isaacs, in his testimony before Congress around August 7, said that he believed the numbers released by WHO comprised maybe 25-50% of the actual cases. And that may be conservative.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201408261429.html
“A five man medical team from the Democratic Republic of Congo has arrived in Liberia with a pledge to help Liberia in its fight against the deadly Ebola Virus Disease.”
______________________________
Methinks they are still needed on their home turf, if the reports coming out of the DRC are accurate.
As usual, they aren’t playing this right.
Well WHO just updated the info for DRC, but the last update on West Africa was August 22.
I imagine they have no handle on the numbers, which logically follows when they have no handle on the outbreak.
Apologies if already posted—
http://allafrica.com/stories/201408271539.html
“Liberia: 4 West Point ‘Looters’ Tested Positive of Ebola”
Can you provide a link to the DR Congo information. I went onto the WHO site and couldn’t find it.
Wow. Crime really does NOT pay.
Thanks much Joe. I did read all the info at the tabs but your explanation helps to make sense of it all.
I just read the update at the link. Talk about a lack of information.
I know. The lack of information- in toto- is very disturbing.
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