Researchers Call for Mobilization of Ebola Survivors to Treat Disease in West Africa
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Bumbasor/iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Health researchers called for the mobilization of Ebola survivors in West Africa as a means of more safely treating current patients.
According to an editorial published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, researchers note that because Ebola survivors have an immunity to the disease, making them at little to no risk of re-infection, they can more safely deal with infected patients.
Researchers also note that the blood of those survivors can also be used to treat patients, as their blood contains antibodies against the virus. Further, researchers say, survivors are often able to speak the local language and understand cultural dynamics, increasing the likelihood of trust between them and the patient.
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