WHO: Use survivors’ blood to treat Ebola patients

LONDON (AP) — The World Health Organization recommends that doctors should use blood from survivors to treat patients in an effort to combat the biggest-ever outbreak of Ebola.

At a press briefing on Friday, WHO expert Dr. Marie Paule Kieny said survivors’ blood may be used to treat Ebola and that all efforts should be taken to help countries use the strategy.

At a meeting in Geneva this week, the U.N. health agency invited more than 200 experts to discuss which experimental treatments and vaccines for Ebola should be fast-tracked for testing.

The agency also said it had identified two promising vaccine candidates, one of which is being tested in the U.S.

Ebola has so far infected more than 2,100 people and the death rate is nearly 50 percent.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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