EBOLA: Why ZMapp Is Ineffective In Some Individuals

Director, African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Redeemer’s University, Professor Christian Happi, has said that ZMapp and other Ebola virus treatments will only be effective in ensuring person’s with Ebola virus survive if they commence treatment early before there is any organ damage.


Happi, a Professor of Molecular Biology and Genomics, said what makes a difference whether ZMapp can be relied upon is dependent on time of diagnosis of the infection, how soon supportive treatment for the infection and the administration of ZMapp starts.

The don declared: “there is no treatment for Ebola but you could have supportive treatment to help overcome the infection. The supportive treatment enables the body’s immune system could be strengthen so that it can fight the infection.

“ZMapp is not going to work when the virus has been running in the system for long and the damage has already been done. So the earlier the infection is diagnosed and ZMapp administered, the higher the chances of survival.

“You cannot expect the result to be the same when the virus has been running for two weeks and all the organs already damaged and you expect ZMapp to perform miracle,” he declared.

Happi, saying that good nutrition makes body immunity stronger and able to fight infections, however declared that “Nutrition cannot give specific immunity against Ebola".