Pakistani scientists have found tentative evidence that seriously ill coronavirus patients can benefit from infusions of blood plasma, collected from people who have recovered from the disease.
Just when the confirmed coronavirus cases in Pakistan have reached 5,374 and 93 people have died from the infection, according to the national dashboard; Medical experts from DOW University of Health Sciences have claimed that they have found the cure of the novel coronavirus.
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Moreover, research team at the university also claimed that they have successfully tested IVIG (plasma therapy) to treat a coronavirus infected Patient.
These findings raise hopes that donated blood from recently recovered patients could be used to boost the immune systems of more vulnerable people and help them fight the infection.
While speaking to one of the local news channels, DUHS Vice Chancellor Muhammad Saeed Qureshi who is also a member of the research team, said that Intravenous Immunoglobulin is a great development in the fight against novel coronavirus.
He further added that the globulin was manufactured with purified antibodies, obtained from the recovered coronavirus patients. Professor Shaukat Ali, head of the research team, has termed the corona cure as a ray of hope amid the pandemic crisis.
According to the statement released by the university: “This way of treatment is safe, low risk and highly effective against coronavirus. Through this method, Immunoglobulin is prepared after separation of antibodies found in the blood of a recovered patient.”
The statement pointed out that this form of treatment has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
On April 09, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) allowed clinical trials of blood plasma therapy to treat coronavirus patients in the country.
Im so proud to be a part of Dow Alumni! Dow isolates IVIG for COVID19 cure. Initial trials have been successful Alhamdolillah.
We are nearing to a cure guys. Pakistan Zindabad ❤— Rabeea (@BerryAneurysm) April 13, 2020
Previously, plasma, the fluid in blood teeming with antibodies post-illness, has already proven effective in small studies to treat infectious diseases including Ebola and SARS.
According to an announcement made by the Special Assistant to PM on Health, Dr Zafar Mirza, here today. “The DRAP has also approved local manufacturing of the raw material of the anti-malarial drug, chloroquine.”
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According to official sources, during the last 24 hours, 336 cases have been reported in the country.
Punjab has the highest number of infections up to 2,594, 1,411 in Sindh, 744 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 230 in Balochistan, 224 in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), 131 in Islamabad and 40 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.