TheEbola virus disease outbreakin West Africa continues to storm on , with 1848 suspected guinea pig and 1013 deaths ( 54.8 % fatality pace ) . handle EVD typically consist of symptom management , as there are n’t many approved medications useable for use . However , there are a number of yet - unapproved medications to do by EVD that are in various stages of examination , including the ZMAPPserum given to Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebolbefore their transfer to Atlanta .
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) convoke a meeting with representative from 10 country on Monday and unanimously determined it would be ethical to concede “ compassionate use ” of some of these unproved medications to battle this outbreak . A statement was released today ( August 12 ) but the full report will be made available August 17 .
The commission try that strict honorable guidepost must be followed when dole out these medicament . The criteria “ include transparency about all face of tending , informed consent , freedom of alternative , confidentiality , deference for the soul , preservation of self-worth and involvement of the community , ” grant toWHO ’s statement .
to boot , the committee stresses a “ moral certificate of indebtedness ” for open access to all of the data accrued during this time period . In rescript to bolster the integrity of the information collected , health official should require steps to ensure that the medicament are dish out as similarly to clinical trail as potential .
It has not been made entirely decipherable within the released statement which medications will be select for use first or where they will be accessible . Medications that have not been approve are also not produced in declamatory quantities , so there will belike be issues with availableness . Once an unregistered intercession has been given to patient , its performance will ascertain whether or not it continue to be used . to boot , the first medications given under these circumstances will also see if and what other treatments are inclose .
Desperate times call for desperate measures , and hopefully introducing compassionate use drugs will be good to containing this irruption . The information gain from these impromptu trial could even expedite the formulation and developing of a drug that is able foreclose next eruption .