Ebola Drugs & Virus in Spain: Infected Nurse's Aid Tests Negative After Receiving Antibodies, Experimental Drug
Spanish nurse's aide Teresa Romero Ramos, who contracted Ebola after caring for an infected patient, has tested negative for the virus, reports CNN.
Romero's two earlier tests revealed low Ebola levels. Spain's Special Ebola Committee confirmed Sunday that her third test result was negative.
The amount of the Ebola virus in Romero's blood had decreased dramatically from the time she was rushed to the hospital two weeks ago, according to officials.
Luis Enjuanes, an expert on viruses and part of the government's Ebola special committee, told CNN via phone interview that Romero has recovered enough to produce antibodies. Her body is creating its own protection, so any trace of the virus likely will be neutralized or destroyed, he said.
Romero has received two main treatments to battle Ebola:
1. IV drip delivering the antibodies of a French Catholic nun who was cured of Ebola after contracting the virus while volunteering in Liberia.
2. The experimental anti-viral drug favipiravir.
Doctors also administered anti-inflammatory drugs to help her respiratory issues despite concerns how that medication might affect the Ebola treatments.
Romero is expected to remain in the hospital for a few days to ensure a full recovery.
Madrid health authorities euthanized Romero's dog, Excalibur, despite a public initiative to save his life that included a Change.org petition signed by nearly 400,000 supporters.
Romero's husband called his country's handling of the crisis "lousy" in a video statement released by a family spokesperson.
There were local reports that a nurse, one of several people to ride with Romero in an ambulance to the hospital, has tested negative for Ebola. She will remain in isolation at Madrid's Carlos III hospital for 72 hours while a second round of tests is performed.
The Special Ebola Committee stated Sunday morning that Romero was the only confirmed Ebola patient.
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