American Ebola patients released from Emory

[redheadbaker]

Watching NBC right now -- the woman was released on Tuesday, and the doctor is being released today, I think. 

[redheadbaker]

Blood tests conducted on consecutive days revealed no evidence of the ebola virus in the patients. They pose no risk to the general public.

[underwaterrhymes]

This is great news!

[pixy0stix]

So the experimental drug worked then? Awesome!

[redheadbaker]

The Emory doctor (the treating doctor, not the Ebola patient) is choking back tears during the press conference.

[miniroller]

Is anyone knowledgable re: the new (curing) drug? I'm beyond pleased for the Americans, of course, but also wondering what's happening as far as getting this treatment to Africa. I haven't thoroughly investigated, but definitely have not heard a report on what the plan is? I didn't know how expensive the treatment is/ what kind of environment is required (if any?). Please don't judge that I'm kinda using GBCN as my primary news source here...

[sangria]

Aug 21, 2014 10:36:36 GMT -5 miniroller said:

Is anyone knowledgable re: the new (curing) drug? I'm beyond pleased for the Americans, of course, but also wondering what's happening as far as getting this treatment to Africa. I haven't thoroughly investigated, but definitely have not heard a report on what the plan is? I didn't know how expensive the treatment is/ what kind of environment is required (if any?). Please don't judge that I'm kinda using GBCN as my primary news source here...

Isn't part of the problem that's it's never been through trials? I'm betting here is hesitation because nobody really knows what side effects or long term effects may happen

[heyjude]

Thank god for the power of modern medicine!!!

Shame on the people who harped about bringing them back for treatment.

And shame on the people who eschew modern medical advancements because of "ingredients."

[MrsPenny]

This makes me so happy. Finally, some good news!

[redheadbaker]

Aug 21, 2014 11:04:53 GMT -5 @mx said:

Aug 21, 2014 11:01:58 GMT -5 @pennypie said:

The docs at Emory are stopping way short of saying the drug 'cured' them. It seems like they got a lot of careful medical care and attention above and beyond that drug--the level of which is not available in Africa currently--so it could be a combination of a lot of factors that contributed to recovery.

Right. I think ascribing curative properties to the drug is premature. It may simply keep people alive long enough for the supportive care to be effective. Regardless, in this epidemic investment needs to be in health systems not pharmaceuticals because a drug, curative or otherwise, is of limited utility in a health system as far stretched as Liberia's.

This is basically what the doctors said during the press conference. They re-stated that there is no cure for Ebola, but that this drug helped keep the patients alive so that their own bodies could fight off the virus. 

[NitaX]

Aug 21, 2014 10:36:36 GMT -5 miniroller said:

Is anyone knowledgable re: the new (curing) drug? I'm beyond pleased for the Americans, of course, but also wondering what's happening as far as getting this treatment to Africa. I haven't thoroughly investigated, but definitely have not heard a report on what the plan is? I didn't know how expensive the treatment is/ what kind of environment is required (if any?). Please don't judge that I'm kinda using GBCN as my primary news source here...

GBCN is typically better than CNN. Fact.

[meshaliuknits]

Aug 21, 2014 11:16:17 GMT -5 NitaX said:

Aug 21, 2014 10:36:36 GMT -5 miniroller said:

Is anyone knowledgable re: the new (curing) drug? I'm beyond pleased for the Americans, of course, but also wondering what's happening as far as getting this treatment to Africa. I haven't thoroughly investigated, but definitely have not heard a report on what the plan is? I didn't know how expensive the treatment is/ what kind of environment is required (if any?). Please don't judge that I'm kinda using GBCN as my primary news source here...

GBCN is typically better than CNN. Fact.

I feel like this is a low bar.

[miniroller]

Aug 21, 2014 11:01:58 GMT -5 @pennypie said:

The docs at Emory are stopping way short of saying the drug 'cured' them. It seems like they got a lot of careful medical care and attention above and beyond that drug--the level of which is not available in Africa currently--so it could be a combination of a lot of factors that contributed to recovery.

Sorry, just wanted to make sure everyone's aware of my 'liking' of this post is regarding lessel providing this information (thanks) & not that I'm liking the content of the post. I hope most would assume this, but just in case.

[penguingrrl]

Such amazing news!!! And what a breakthrough that this medicine seems to have helped even in a limited capacity. Hopefully that will greatly further our chances of getting a cure eventually!

[Deleted]

Aug 21, 2014 10:36:36 GMT -5 miniroller said:

Is anyone knowledgable re: the new (curing) drug? I'm beyond pleased for the Americans, of course, but also wondering what's happening as far as getting this treatment to Africa. I haven't thoroughly investigated, but definitely have not heard a report on what the plan is? I didn't know how expensive the treatment is/ what kind of environment is required (if any?). Please don't judge that I'm kinda using GBCN as my primary news source here...

It's being fast tracked through trials now. It's like the #1 priority at the NIH and FDA.

[Deleted]

Aug 21, 2014 11:01:58 GMT -5 @pennypie said:

The docs at Emory are stopping way short of saying the drug 'cured' them. It seems like they got a lot of careful medical care and attention above and beyond that drug--the level of which is not available in Africa currently--so it could be a combination of a lot of factors that contributed to recovery.

And, ebola does not have a 100% mortality rate. It has a high mortality rate, but its not 100%.  so its not necessarily  that these people would have died BUT FOR this drug.  (now that doesnt mean this drug isn't very promising and that there should not be an effort to have it more widely available, just that there is a lot more at play here than "just" this drug, as you said).

[Velar Fricative]

This is awesome.

I did read somewhere that someone on this treatment plan did die recently, so there are still uncertainties about whether the drugs were truly responsible. In any case, it's very promising and I hope it helps a lot more people.

[jillboston]

Best news I've heard all week.

[pescalita]

Aug 21, 2014 12:19:17 GMT -5 @pennypie said:

Aug 21, 2014 12:03:14 GMT -5 @mrsbecky07 said:

And, ebola does not have a 100% mortality rate. It has a high mortality rate, but its not 100%.  so its not necessarily  that these people would have died BUT FOR this drug.  (now that doesnt mean this drug isn't very promising and that there should not be an effort to have it more widely available, just that there is a lot more at play here than "just" this drug, as you said).

Yes, also true. It was interesting how one doc at the press conference was likening the fatality rate in Africa to just sending home every patient in the Emory ICU...some would live and some would not. Whereas with high quality care, the odds greatly increase. He was basically saying if Ebola came to the US our fatality rate would be much lower than in Africa.

Exactly. Honestly, when I heard the news I had forgotten about the drug. I assumed they survived because a) 40% of cases are surviving this outbreak b) they were in decent shape when they arrived - decent enough to survive the flight, and the dude walked into Emory and most importantly c) they got American health care.