Still On Ebola: Nigeria Approves The Use Of Experimental Drug ZMapp On Ebola Stricken Patients

From NAN:

The National Health Research Ethics Committee, Nigeria, has approved the use of an experimental Ebola drug, Zmapp, for treatment of patients infected with the virus. The committee, which composed research scientists, is a national body under the Federal Ministry of Health.

The endorsement is contained in a statement issued to newsmen by Prof. Clement Adebamowo, Chairman of the committee on Wednesday in Abuja. Continue...

The decision by the committee is coming on the heels of Tuesday’s approval by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the use of Zmapp for treatment of Ebola patients.

“It is ethical to use these treatments in the current situation without first submitting an application to National, State or Institutional Health Research Ethics Committee for prior review and approval.

“In addition, the Committee waives the current requirement that international shipment of any biological samples out of Nigeria should be preceded by the establishment of a Materials Transfer Agreement.

“This waiver is to promote rapid international response to this global emergency,’’ the statement said.

In the statement, the Nigerian National Code for Health Research Ethics emphasised that all innovative and non-validated treatments should be carefully and adequately documented.

The Story Of Anders Jonas Angstrom

 

For Science lovers, today would have been Scientist, Anders Jonas Angstrom's 200th Birthday, if he were alive of course. But the man had made and left a remarkable legacy! Here's his story.

Anders Jonas Ångström was born in Medelpad. He moved to and was educated at Uppsala University, where in 1839 he became docent in physics. In 1842 he went to the Stockholm Observatory to gain experience in practical astronomical work, and the following year he was appointed keeper of the Uppsala Astronomical Observatory.

Becoming interested in terrestrial magnetism he made many observations of magnetic intensity and declination in various parts of Sweden, and was charged by the Stockholm Academy of Sciences with the task, not completed till shortly before his death, of working out the magnetic data obtained by the Swedish frigate "Eugenie" on her voyage around the world in 1851 to 1853.

Enugu State Deputy Governor Slumps In Court

From Daily Post

The Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi has slumped in court. He was rushed out of the court hall at about 11.38 am by his wife, Mrs. Nneka Ada Onyebuchi, his children and some of his aides present for medical attention.

The Deputy Governor had arrived the court in company of his lawyers Wednesday morning and began his evidence at 9.30 am but three hours five minutes later, he reportedly collapsed and his wife and others present rushed forward to rescue him.

One of the defence counsels, Mr. Peter Eze, said the Deputy Governor collapsed five minutes after the Chief of Staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo and the state Attorney General, Mr. Anthony Ani, SAN, came into the court.

Eze said that the Deputy Governor was immediately rushed to the hospital while the proceeding was stood down till 2pm. Mrs. Nwobodo was accompanied to the court at about 11am by the State Attorney General in response to the summons served on her on Tuesday to appear before the panel.

I Didn't Know Him By Brian Finkelstein

Even though I didn't know Robin Williams, I'm affected by his suicide. It feels like we all are. We all feel so goddamn sad. And so I say this: If in your life you feel down or lost or in pain... I beg you to call someone.

That's an article by Brian Finkelstein. Do you agree with him? Read full article here

Still On Ebola: Another Man Dies Of Ebola Disease In Nigeria

Yesterday, it was reported that Nigeria has recorded another death from the outbreak of the Ebola virus. This time it is a staff of the Lagos Liason office of the Economic Community of West African State - ECOWAS headquarters, Mr Jatto Abdulqudir. Confirming his death in a statement, ECOWAS management said the 36 year old man was among those who assisted the late Liberian Patrick Sawyerr when he came to Lagos for a regional meeting and was quarantined after Sawyerr died of the deadly disease. This brings to three the number of deaths from the deadly virus in Nigeria. The first two being Sawyerr and a Nigerian nurse.

Full text of the ECOWAS statement follows...

"The ECOWAS Commission announces with deep regret the passing of a staff member of its Lagos Liaison Office, Mr. Jatto Asihu Abdulqudir, aged 36. Mr. Abdulqudir, a Protocol Assistant, was among those who assisted the Liberian delegate to a regional meeting Mr. Patrick Sawyer, who died from the Ebola Virus Disease at a Lagos hospital on 25th July 2014.

“Mr. Abdulqudir had been under quarantine following that sad incident.

“The Commission wishes to use this opportunity to express its gratitude to Nigerian government authorities and others who contributed to managing the late official while under quarantine. The Management of the Commission wishes to commiserate with Mr. Abdulqudir’s family and colleagues and prays for the repose of his soul.

"Before this sad event, the Commission working in collaboration with Nigerian health authorities, had disinfected all the facilities of the ECOWAS Lagos Liaison Office as part of precautionary measures to safeguard the health, safety and security of staff members, and will continue to monitor the situation.

“Management has also intensified awareness campaign among staff on the deadly virus and uses this opportunity to invoke the spirit of solidarity and mutual assistance.
“The Commission wishes to reassure staff of all Community Institutions all over the entire region that it is taking all necessary steps to guarantee their health and safety.

Swedish Dad Teach Sons Lessons: Takes Gamer Kids To Warzones

From: The Local.  Carl-Magnus Helgegren, is a journalist, university teacher, and a proactive dad.

And like so many other dads, Helgegren had to have the violent video-game conversation with his two sons, Frank and Leo, aged ten and eleven respectively.

"We were sitting at the dinner table last autumn, and my kids started telling me about this game they wanted to play, the latest Call of Duty game, and told me about the guns and missions," Helgegren told The Local on Friday. 

Helgegren, who spent some time in the Middle East as a freelance journalist when he was younger, was reminded of his own experiences with guns and missions - where he faced violent demonstrations and grenades to get a story.

"It was quite late in my life when I finally started to scratch the surface of what war really was," Helgegren said.

"I thought I had a pretty good idea from television, but when I was 29 I realized I had absolutely no idea what war was. And my kids couldn't explain it, either."

So Helgegren struck a deal. The family would take a trip to a city impacted by real war. The boys would meet people affected, do interviews, and visit a refugee camp. And when they came back home, they would be free to play whatever games they chose.

 

On Ebola: How A Nursing Mother Got Infected With The Ebola Virus

 From Punch:

A medical doctor who spoke anonymously has described how one of the confirmed cases of the deadly Ebola virus (a nursing mother) in Lagos had contracted the disease while attending her antenatal care at First Consultant Hospital in Obalende. This is the hospital where the first case late Mr. Patrick Sawyerr died of the Ebola Viral Disease (EVD). The lady tested positive at the NNPC staff clinic on Muri Okunola street in the Victoria Island area of Lagos.

The doctor said;

'The lady attended ante-natal at First Consultant prior to the arrival of the Liberian, Mr. Patrick Sawyer. She was delivered of her baby at the hospital after which she was discharged. A few weeks later, Mr. Sawyer came around and was attended to by health workers. He was first treated for malaria, then typhoid, before there was high index of suspicion. He tested positive for Ebola and died. Then the woman, who gave birth at the hospital came back to the hospital for her baby’s immunization. The nurses who attended to Sawyer also attended to her. When she visited the place again last week, she discovered the place had been shut down for proper fumigation as a means of control against Ebola.” he said.

Seeing that the hospital has been shut down, the lady who had started showing signs of fever proceeded to the NNPC staff clinic which was close by.

'She was first treated for Malaria. However, after some medical tests, there was a high suspicion of Ebola haemorrhagic fever. On Friday, the Lagos State’s emergency response team on Ebola virus came around and took her to the Infectious Diseases Hospital,” he added.