Liberia announced on Monday that soon dose of an experimental drug Ebola would you give to two doctors and patients, becoming the first African to receive an unusual treatment spiral epidemic.
The American government has confirmed that Liberian officials had contacted the manufacturer and referred ZMapp further questions to Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc. In a statement, the company said, headquartered in California, not identified in response to a request from a country in West Africa, had more to treat.
The news comes as anger over the fact that the only people who received the experimental treatment so far, the West grows: two Americans and Spanish, all of which were evacuated to their home countries of Liberia.
Late Monday, the World Health Organization said 1,013 people died in the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. The authorities recorded 1,848 suspected, probable or confirmed cases of the disease, the health authority of the United Nations. The countdown WHO update contains 7 to 9 August, when 52 people were killed and more than 69 others were infected.
There is also no vaccine or treatment for Ebola, but several development ZMapp. This treatment is so new that has not been tested for safety or efficacy in humans. And the company said it would take months to produce, even in small quantities.
It is not known how to treat Liberia sent.
"The Government of the United States has helped to connect the Government of Liberia with the manufacturer", Department of Health and Human Services USA said, said in a statement. "Since the drug for use outside the United States was to be delivered, and export procedures must be followed."
2 Americans, received the Spanish Drugs
Liberia's statement was published on the website of the presidency, he also said an experimental treatment for the World Health Organization. It is not known if this is called for ZMapp or other treatment.
In recent weeks, the experimental drug was given to two American workers diagnosed with the disease while treating the work in a hospital, the patient with Ebola. On Monday, officials in Spain have found that the treatment given also to a Spanish missionary priest who became ill while working in Liberia.
The Americans started to improve, but there is no way to know if the medication helped, or if they improve themselves and others. Survive infected About 40 percent of people with the Ebola virus in the current outbreak.
But some have called for the drug to untested African to. The outbreak was first identified in Guinea in March, but probably started months ago. It has since spread in Liberia and neighboring Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and possibly.
"No reason to try this drug in black and white patients ignore," said Marcel Guilavogui, a pharmacist in Conakry, Guinea. "We understand that this is a drug that is tested for the first time and could have negative side effects., But we must also try black."
Some use Twitter to demand that the drug is available.
"We can not afford to be passive, while many others die," said Aisha Dabo, Senegalese journalist, Gambia tweeted with the hashtag "GiveUsTheSerum" on Monday. "So we raise our voice for the world to hear us."
Exceptions for "compassionate use"
Ethical dilemmas prompted Health Organization of the United Nations on Monday with ethicists, infectious disease specialists, representatives of patients and doctors without borders consult group. Most participants in the conclave developed countries but Uganda and Senegal have shown. The World Health Organization said that the results of the meeting discussing in a press conference on Tuesday.
Companies can create experimental drugs on a "compassionate use", usually after they thoroughly tested in humans. The Food and Drug Administration approved such use in the United States, has no power, but abroad. Ultimately, the only company to decide whether or not to share their products.
Ministry of Health of Spain said it received ZMapp this weekend courtesy of Miguel Pajares, a priest evacuated 75 years and placed in isolation in hospital Sunday Carlos III de Madrid try Liberia.
"The drugs were from Geneva, where it imports a dose available as part of an agreement between the laboratory, developed the drug, the WHO and [MSF] that," the ministry said, citing a law, Spanish for unauthorized for patients drugs with deadly diseases.
The Spanish authorities have refused to comment on the statement of the Ministry, but the University Hospital of Geneva told the Associated Press that he participated in getting the drug to Madrid.
Helper evacuated Americans, Dr. Kent and Nancy Brantly Writebol have improved in the clinic at Emory University in Atlanta. They had the following treatment wallet international relief organization Samaritan Kentucky has asked Mapp biopharmaceutical bioprocess product.
Guinea hopes to be the next
Treatment for stimulating the immune system to fight Ebola should. It is grown from plants in snuff antibody
An official from Sierra Leone said the drug had not sought, but other governments have said they want to unproven treatment that could help patients recover despite the risks of drugs.
"To test the alternative, death is not certain death," Information Minister of Liberia, Lewis Brown, the AP said in an interview before the announcement.
Guinea announced Monday he wants, too.
"The authorities in Guinea be interested in this product, of course," said Alhoussein Makanera Kake 'committee to fight against the government of Ebola.
Ebola is transmitted by direct contact with blood or body fluids of an infected person. It begins with a fever and sore throat and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and internal and external bleeding.