Good for Miss Pham and her family.

My question - if there is no known cure for the disease how is it that these survivors are being treated so they can later walk out as being free of Ebola? Does it have to do with medicine/blood treatments or mostly keeping everything around them sanitary?

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Posted by mmcgrath

Indianapolis

Member since Feb 2010

35709 posts

Posted on 10/24/14 at 10:49 am to Homesick Tiger

quote:
My question - if there is no known cure for the disease how is it that these survivors are being treated so they can later walk out as being free of Ebola? Does it have to do with medicine/blood treatments or mostly keeping everything around them sanitary?

They aren't sure, but the common thought is that immediately replacing fluids and electrolytes is the key.

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Posted by NC_Tigah

Member since Sep 2003

125568 posts

Posted on 10/24/14 at 11:04 am to Homesick Tiger

quote:
My question - if there is no known cure for the disease how is it that these survivors are being treated

Antibodies (the body's 'natural defenses') kill Ebola. If the body's immune system responds more quickly than the virus multiplies, the virus is gradually killed off. If the virus multiplies in a way that overwhelms the body's immune defense, the patient dies.

In Pham's case, and perhaps Vinson's, transfusion of antibodies (Kent Brantley's Plasma) gave a boost to to her immune system. Antiviral agents (Drugs used to kill viruses, sort of like antibiotics kill bacteria) are also used and may or may not help. It sounds like antivirals made a significant difference in Brantley's case.

As with most viruses, cure comes when the body kills all Ebola, assuming Ebola doesn't kill the body first.

This post was edited on 10/24/14 at 11:52 am

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