The head of an Ebola treatment center in Liberia has called on the survivors of the Ebola virus disease to donate their blood to help treat people affected by the virus.
"We need survivors to come and help us with blood donations," Attai Omoruto told Reuters. Omoruto runs the newly-opened Island Clinic in Monrovia, Liberia's capital.
Studies have showed that the Ebola survivors' blood can stop or prevent further infection of affected patients. The World Health Organization (WHO) believes that the serum, along with other products formulated using the blood of the Ebola survivors, could be dispensed to nations that have been hit hard by the epidemic, and treat the disease while experimental drugs are still under clinical trials.
The current Ebola crisis has already claimed 2,800 lives. As the epidemic affects more people, there are rumors claiming Ebola survivors' blood is being sold on the black market. The blood of the survivors became valuable because it could be used fight the infection.
"We will certainly bring this matter to the attention of governments and work with them to stamp out any black market activity," Margaret Chan, WHO's Director General said.
Health experts warned that buying blood from the black market could expose patients to other infections, or make their condition worse. There is also no guarantee that the blood is indeed from patients who have recovered from the disease.
"There's no quality control and there's a huge opportunity for exploitation based just on how desperate these people must be," said Nancy Walton, an associate professor of nursing and bioethicist at Ryerson University, to CTV News.
British nurse Will Pooley, who contracted the disease in Africa, volunteered to donate his blood for no profit. The Telegraph also reported that British scientists are working with WHO to test potential drugs and vaccines to the affected Ebola patients in November.
