Report: Blood of Ebola survivors is being traded in black market

A 'treatment' for Ebola made from the blood of survivors of the vicious disease is being traded on the black market in West Africa, it has emerged. 

Health experts have warned the serums could contain other harmful infections as the World Health Organisation vowed to work with governments to stamp out the illicit trade.  

The 'convalescent serum' is made from survivors' blood, which contains antibodies that could help fight the virus, Bloomberg News reported.

Margaret Chan, director-general of the WHO said: ‘There is a danger that such serums could contain other infections and wouldn’t be administered properly.'

The announcement comes as the WHO said new cases in West Africa are increasing faster than the capacity to manage them.

More than 2,400 people have died from Ebola in recent months and almost 4,700 people have been infected, making it the largest outbreak in history.

Patients are given intravenous fluids, blood transfusions and antibiotics to bolster their immune systems and help fight off other infections.

However, the blood of survivors contains natural antibodies that can protect against Ebola.

Antibodies are produced by the body’s white blood cells and bind to foreign invaders like viruses and bacteria to neutralise them as a threat.

About half of the people infected during the current outbreak have survived, providing a potential pool of donors.

The WHO is developing a system where blood from survivors of the disease can be drawn out safely and re-injected into patients.

It comes as Ebola survivor Dr Kent Brantly donated blood to a fellow American aid worker infected with the diesase.

Dr Rick Sacra received blood transfusions from Dr Brantly shortly after he arrived at the Nebraska Medical Center last Friday.