Ebola's Cure

"Experimenal Ebola medication ZMapp saves infected monkeys”
By: Melissa Healy
Source: LA Times
http://touch.latimes.com/#section/621/article/p2p-81216967/

  Ebola is a fairly new, fatal disease that has no cure. Recently, researchers have found that ZMapp, an experimental drug, has cured about eighteen macaque monkeys that were infected with the virus. The monkeys that were three days away from death had treatment and were cured. Three infected macaques that did not get the treatment were dead in eight days. Scientists from the San Diego Biotechnology Company, which joined the Gary P. Kobinger Canadian Public Health Agency, designed and developed ZMapp. Kobinger said that the antibodies that are being cloned recognize and attach to the strains of the virus. The results for the ZMapp cure were successful and they are hoping to test it on humans and save lives. This is the most promising option right now for Ebola patients to get cured. If a human is diagnosed with Ebola, the life span for that person will be twelve to fourteen days. It is difficult to differentiate the timeline for curing humans from the macaques but Kobinger concluded that there would no t be a difference. In macaques the treatment showed no signs of harmful side effects. Nature Study reported that if the disease reached the nervous system of the macaque ZMapp was not able to treat it. It is still a mystery if ZMapp will treat everyone in the future. Scientists are still running tests trying to find a cure for patients suffering from Ebola. 

  It is important that an audience should read this article because it shows how scientists are working their best trying to find a cure for a terrible disease. People should be familiar with ZMapp and other medications in case someone in their family is diagnosed.