Egypt starts plasma therapy trials on coronavirus seriously ill

The Egyptian Health Ministry will start injecting plasma of patients who have recovered from the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19) into severely ill patients,  according to Hala Zayed.

Plasma from recovered cases have the antibodies required to battle the virus inside other patients and curb its replication.

Zayed said that Egypt has the required experience in the convalescent plasma therapy and that the ministry is working hard through scientific research to find treatment for coronavirus patients.

Plasma were extracted from six people who have recovered from coronavirus, the ministry’s statement revealed, and tests indicated that three of them were good to use.

Plasma was already injected into one patient, the ministry said, adding that other patients will also undergo the same treatment, in accordance with the research protocol in this regard. The results will be continuously announced, said the statement.

Once patients respond to treatment, convalescent plasma therapy will be widely applied, through inviting recovered people to donate plasma, in order to help save patients who are in critical condition, the ministry added.