10/1/2014 Ebola Virus: Nigerian Patients to Be Given Experimental Drug - WSJ http://online.wsj.com/articles/nigerian-ebola-patients-to-be-given-experimental-drug-1408034006 1/3 Live Help WSJ WSJ LIVE MARKETWATCH BARRON'S MEMBERSHIP DJX MORE WORLD Shelling Kills 10 in Eastern Ukraine 1 of 12 NATO's Stoltenberg Takes Softer Tone on... 2 of 12 India Clings to Disputed Food Subsidies 3 of 12 Guide Recounts Volcano Eruption 4 of 12 WORLD NEWS Ebola Virus: Nigerian Patients to Be Given Experimental Drug Untested Drug on Way to Lagos to Treat Eight Nigerians Updated Aug. 15, 2014 10:21 a.m. ET Ebola victims in Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos will receive an experimental drug called Nano Silver, the country's top health official said on Thursday, in a step that introduces a new untested treatment to the fight against an outbreak in several West African countries . Nigeria's Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, said the experimental drug came from a Nigerian scientist, whose name he wouldn't disclose. He said the drug, which was on its way to Lagos, would aim to treat the eight Nigerians who have tested positive for Ebola. The World Health Organization opened the door for experimental Ebola drugs this week, after a panel of ethicists it convened condoned such treatments because of the challenges controlling an outbreak that has killed at least 1,069 people. A handful of medications and vaccines have been developed, but not tested on humans. (Ebola virus: West African treatment centers filling up fast). The U.S. began evacuating families of embassy personnel in Sierra Leone on Thursday, citing concerns that local medical facilities have become overwhelmed by the spread of the virus. "There is a lack of options for routine healthcare services at major medical facilities due to the Ebola outbreak," State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said. The State Department took similar steps last week in Liberia. While the agency said the moves represent "an abundance of caution," they also underscore an escalating publichealth crisis in West Africa. The disease appears contained in Nigeria, but "elsewhere, the outbreak is expected to continue for some time," the WHO said. Liberia's government has ordered three courses of the experimental drug ZMapp , which was given earlier to two Americans infected with virus. Given the scarce global supply of the experimental drugs, the decision of what treatments to give to which patients has proved controversial. The magnitude of the Ebola virus outbreak may be vastly underestimated, the World Health Organization said Thursday. More than 1,000 people have died and nearly 2,000 have been sickened. Photo: Getty Images What's This? Popular Now ARTICLES VIDEO Germs Thrive at Work, Too 1 Study: Half of Wildlife Lost Since 1970 2 Buy a Property, Get a Passport 3 What It's Really Like in the Secret Service 4 Opinion: Harry Reid's Desperate Measures 5 Missiles Destroy Islamic State Arsenal in Iraq 1 Joshua Wong: Student Leader Stokes Hong Kong Protests 2 Inside a Russian Billionaire's $300 Million Yacht 3 Far Fewer Animals on Earth Than Previously Thought 4 TOP STORIES IN WORLD By GBENGA AKINGBULE and HEIDI VOGT CONNECT Email Print 5 Comments BONNIE's Journal c r News, Quotes, Companies, Videos SEARCH
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10/1/2014 Ebola Virus: Nigerian Patients to Be Given Experimental Drug - WSJ
WSJ WSJ LIVE MARKETWATCH BARRON'S MEMBERSHIP DJX MORE
WORLD
Shelling Kills 10 in
Eastern Ukraine
1 of 12
NATO's Stoltenberg Takes
Softer Tone on...
2 of 12
India Clings to
Disputed Food
Subsidies
3 of 12
Guide Recounts
Volcano Eruption
4 of 12
WORLD NEWS
Ebola Virus: Nigerian Patients to Be Given Experimental Drug
Untested Drug on Way to Lagos to Treat Eight Nigerians
Updated Aug. 15, 2014 10:21 a.m. ET
Ebola victims in Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos will receive an experimental drugcalled Nano Silver, the country's top health official said on Thursday, in a step thatintroduces a new untested treatment to the fight against an outbreak in several WestAfrican countries.
Nigeria's Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, said the experimental drug camefrom a Nigerian scientist, whose name he wouldn't disclose. He said the drug, whichwas on its way to Lagos, would aim to treat the eight Nigerians who have testedpositive for Ebola.
The World Health Organization opened the door for experimental Ebola drugs thisweek, after a panel of ethicists it convened condoned such treatments because of thechallenges controlling an outbreak that has killed at least 1,069 people. A handful ofmedications and vaccines have been developed, but not tested on humans.
(Ebola virus: West African treatment centers filling up fast).
The U.S. began evacuating families of embassy personnel in Sierra Leone onThursday, citing concerns that local medical facilities have become overwhelmed bythe spread of the virus.
"There is a lack of options for routine health-care services at major medical facilitiesdue to the Ebola outbreak," State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said.
The State Department took similar steps last week in Liberia. While the agency saidthe moves represent "an abundance of caution," they also underscore an escalatingpublic-health crisis in West Africa.
The disease appears contained in Nigeria, but "elsewhere, the outbreak is expected tocontinue for some time," the WHO said.
Liberia's government has ordered three courses of the experimental drug ZMapp,which was given earlier to two Americans infected with virus. Given the scarce globalsupply of the experimental drugs, the decision of what treatments to give to whichpatients has proved controversial.
The magnitude of the Ebola virus outbreak may be vastly underestimated, the World Health Organizationsaid Thursday. More than 1,000 people have died and nearly 2,000 have been sickened. Photo: GettyImages
What's This?Popular Now
ARTICLES
VIDEO
Germs Thrive atWork, Too
1
Study: Half ofWildlife Lost Since1970
2
Buy a Property, Geta Passport
3
What It's ReallyLike in the SecretService
4
Opinion: HarryReid's DesperateMeasures
5
Missiles DestroyIslamic StateArsenal in Iraq
1
Joshua Wong:Student LeaderStokes Hong KongProtests
2
Inside a RussianBillionaire's $300Million Yacht
3
Far Fewer Animalson Earth ThanPreviously Thought
4
TOP STORIES IN WORLD
By GBENGA AKINGBULE and HEIDI VOGT CONNECT
Email Print 5 Comments
BONNIE's Journal cr
News, Quotes, Companies, Videos SEARCH
10/1/2014 Ebola Virus: Nigerian Patients to Be Given Experimental Drug - WSJ
Though Nigerian authorities are hopeful, little is known about Nano Silver. A Nigeriancontagious-disease expert, Dr. Simon Agwale, said Nano Silver had proven effectiveagainst viruses, bacteria, and parasites. "It may be also a source of a cure" for Ebolapatients, Dr. Agwale said.
The Ebola outbreak has caused havoc in West Africa, where most of the victims havebeen concentrated in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Nigeria and Ivory Coast haverestricted flights from Ebola-infected countries while Zambia has banned travelersfrom nations battling outbreaks.
Following a review of its West Africa business, Kenya Airways said on Thursday that itis still operating flights in West Africa.
The airline said it is in close contact with the WHO and will continue to evaluate thesituation. After consulting with the WHO, airline regulators and experts, Kenya Airwayssaid it had concluded that the current risks of Ebola spreading by air travel are"minimal."
"Withdrawing our flights to these key destinations given the safeguards already placedby the respective governments and global health authorities would amount to acorporate placement of unnecessary travel advisory," Kenya Airways said.
The WHO has labeled Kenya as high risk for the spread of Ebola because of its statusas a transport hub. Yet the health body also says the risks posed to tourists andbusiness travelers to infected areas "is extremely low," in part because transmissionrequires direct contact with blood and bodily fluids of an infected victim.
Korean Air said Thursday it was suspending its three-times a weekflights to Nairobi because of concerns over the spread of the Ebola virus.
A Korean Air spokesman said the suspension has nothing to do with the performanceof the segment, although he couldn't immediately confirm the number of passengersper flight on the route.
—In-Soo Nam and Jeffrey Sparshott contributed to this article.
Nigerian health workers in protective clothing wait in an emergency ward as preparation for receiving anyemergency Ebola patients at the National Hospital in Abuja, Nigeria, on Tuesday. European PressphotoAgency
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10/1/2014 Ebola Virus: Nigerian Patients to Be Given Experimental Drug - WSJ