By Maria Khan
Health workers in protective gear wheel a stretcher into a hospital with one of two Spaniards who were repatriated from Liberia, shortly after their arrival in Madrid on August 7, 2014.Reuters
US President Barack Obama refused on Thursday (7 August) Nigeria's request for the ZMapp drug, prompting a backlash on Twitter, with conspiracy theorists weighing in on possible motives behind the super power's decision.
Nigerian authorities had requested the experimental ZMapp drug from the
US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to combat the
Ebola-led state emergency that is fast claiming a growing number of
lives across the West African nations. However, CDC turned down the
request citing drug shortages.
“I think we've got to let the science guide us. And you know, I don't think all the information is in on whether this drug is helpful”
- US President Barack Obama
"There are virtually no doses available," said a CDC spokesman.
The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak an "international health emergency" with a total of 108 new cases being confirmed over the weekend.
So far, the outbreak has claimed 961 lives across Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia and Nigeria, with over 1700 confirmed cases.
Yet, President Obama feels it is still premature to fast track the ZMapp drug for approval and distribution to patients outside the United States.
“I think we've got to let the science guide us. And you know, I don't think all the information is in on whether this drug is helpful”
- US President Barack Obama
"There are virtually no doses available," said a CDC spokesman.
The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak an "international health emergency" with a total of 108 new cases being confirmed over the weekend.
So far, the outbreak has claimed 961 lives across Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia and Nigeria, with over 1700 confirmed cases.
Yet, President Obama feels it is still premature to fast track the ZMapp drug for approval and distribution to patients outside the United States.
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