Coronavirus

COVID-19: US FDA approves blood plasma treatment, 70,000 patients treated so far

The agency revealed that 70,000 patients have so far been treated using blood plasma.

Published

6 months ago

August 24, 2020

IMF says it can mobilize $1 trillion loan to help countries counter Coronavirus,COVID-19: 10 new cases as total figure rises to 224.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Sunday, revealed that it has authorized the use of blood plasma from patients who have recovered from COVID-19 as treatment for the disease.

This is coming barely a day after he accused the agency of delaying the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics for political reasons. The announcement of the emergency use authorization of the treatment is coming on the eve of the Republican National Convention, where Trump is expected to be nominated to lead his party for another 4 years.

The FDA, which appears to be in a rush with the announcement, disclosed that early evidence suggests blood plasma can decrease mortality and improve the health of patients when administered in the first 3 days of their hospitalization.

READ: UK scientists discover cheap drug (just N2.5k) that can combat Covid-19

The Director of the FDA’s Centre for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Peter Marks, on a conference call with reporters, said, ‘’It appeared that the product is safe and we’re comfortable with that and we continue to see no concerning safety signals.’’

The FDA while explaining its decision, cited early evidence suggesting blood plasma can decrease mortality and improve the health of patients when administered in the first 3 days of their hospitalization.

READ: COVID-19: Trump puts pressure on authorities to develop vaccine before election

The FDA said that it recommended it as safe in an analysis of 20,000 patients who received this treatment. The agency revealed that 70,000 patients have so far been treated using blood plasma.

The agency also noted that patients who benefitted the most from this treatment are those under 80 years old and who were not on a respirator. Such patients had a 35% better survival rate a month after receiving the treatment.

READ: Nigeria’s leading health tech innovators and their founders

Plasma is referred to as the element of blood that carries water, enzymes and blood cells throughout the body. It also carries the antibodies humans form to fight off disease and boost immunity.

Supplies of plasma has been limited because they require that a recovered Covid-19 patient donate blood and that it matches the blood type of the recipient

Chike Olisah

Chike Olisah is a graduate of accountancy with over 15 years working experience in the financial service sector. He has worked in research and marketing departments of three top commercial banks. Chike is a senior member of the Nairametrics Editorial Team. You may contact him via his email- [email protected]

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Coronavirus

Covid-19: Nigeria’s COVAX supplies on its way soon – Okonjo-Iweala

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has stated that Nigeria’s COVAX vaccine supplies are on the way.

Published

5 hours ago

February 25, 2021

William Ukpe

The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation and former Nigerian Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has revealed that Nigeria’s COVAX vaccine supplies will soon be on the way while stating that the WTO must be part of the process for transparent vaccines delivery.

The WTO boss disclosed this in a social media statement on Wednesday evening, where she expressed joy that Ghana had received 600,000 COVAX vaccines.

She said, “Very happy to see first delivery of #COVAX supported vaccines to Ghana… Excited to see more countries following. Nigeria’s supplies should be on its way soon.

“No trade restrictions or bureaucracy should get in the way. The WTO must be part of the solution.”

What you should know

Nairametrics reported that Ghana had received the first shipment of Covid-19 vaccines from COVAX, a global scheme to procure and distribute inoculations for free, as the world races to contain the pandemic.
“The 600,000 doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine licensed by the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, the Serum Institute of India, are part of an initial tranche of deliveries headed to several low and middle-income countries,” the WHO said.

Coronavirus

COVID-19 Update in Nigeria

On the 24th of February 2021, 655 new confirmed cases and 11 deaths were recorded in Nigeria

Published

10 hours ago

February 25, 2021

Samuel Oyekanmi

The spread of novel Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) in Nigeria continues to record significant increases as the latest statistics provided by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control reveal Nigeria now has 153,842 confirmed cases.

On the 24th of February 2021, 655 new confirmed cases and 11 deaths were recorded in Nigeria.

To date, 153,842 cases have been confirmed, 130,818 cases have been discharged and 1,885 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. A total of 1.49 million tests have been carried out as of February 24th, 2021 compared to 1.44 million tests a day earlier.

COVID-19 Case Updates- 24th February 2021,

Total Number of Cases – 153,842
Total Number Discharged – 130,818
Total Deaths – 1,885
Total Tests Carried out – 1,489,103

According to the NCDC, the 655 new cases are reported from 21 states- Lagos (240), Ogun (88), Rivers (56), FCT (51), Kaduna (43), Kano (25), Plateau (21), Taraba (19), Edo (17), Abia (15), Delta (13), Nasarawa (11), Akwa Ibom (10), Kwara (10), Oyo (10), Kebbi (9), Borno (5), Bayelsa (4), Gombe (4), Ekiti (2), and Osun (2).

Meanwhile, the latest numbers bring Lagos state total confirmed cases to 55,122, followed by Abuja (19,115), Plateau (8,854), Kaduna (8,422), Oyo (6,708), Rivers (6,398), Edo (4,491), Ogun (4,277), Kano (3,716), Ondo (2,944), Kwara (2,875), Delta (2,539), Osun (2,326), Nasarawa (2,208), Gombe (2,031), Katsina (2,029), Enugu (1,998), Ebonyi (1,839), Anambra (1,615), and Abia (1,487).

Imo State has recorded 1,440 cases, Akwa Ibom (1,439), Borno (1,247), Bauchi (1,221), Benue (1,188), Niger (912), Ekiti (797), Sokoto (768), Bayelsa (767), Adamawa (762), Taraba (712), Jigawa (496), Kebbi (358), Yobe (268), Cross River (267), Zamfara (219), while Kogi state has recorded 5 cases only.

Lock Down and Curfew

In a move to combat the spread of the pandemic disease, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the cessation of all movements in Lagos and the FCT for an initial period of 14 days, which took effect from 11 pm on Monday, 30th March 2020.

The movement restriction, which was extended by another two weeks period, has been partially put on hold with some businesses commencing operations from May 4. On April 27th, 2020, Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari declared an overnight curfew from 8 pm to 6 am across the country, as part of new measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19. This comes along with the phased and gradual easing of lockdown measures in FCT, Lagos, and Ogun States, which took effect from Saturday, 2nd May 2020, at 9 am.

On Monday, 29th June 2020 the federal government extended the second phase of the eased lockdown by 4 weeks and approved interstate movement outside curfew hours with effect from July 1, 2020. Also, on Monday 27th July 2020, the federal government extended the second phase of eased lockdown by an additional one week.

On Thursday, 6th August 2020 the federal government through the secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 announced the extension of the second phase of eased lockdown by another four (4) weeks.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State announced the closed down of the Eti-Osa Isolation Centre, with effect from Friday, 31st July 2020. He also mentioned that the Agidingbi Isolation Centre would also be closed and the patients relocated to a large capacity centre.

Due to the increased number of covid-19 cases in Nigeria, the Nigerian government ordered the reopening of Isolation and treatment centres in the country on Thursday, 10th December 2020.

On 26th January 2021, the Federal Government announced the extension of the guidelines of phase 3 of the eased lockdown by one month following the rising cases of the coronavirus disease in the country and the expiration of phase 3 of the eased lockdown.