According to an article written by Peter Dockrill, Johns Hopkins University experts are trying an innovative antibody method from the 1890s on COVID-19.
The article spoke of recovered coronavirus patients’ blood that could be used in “a vital stop-gap treatment”, to help protect the world from the current spread of COVID-19.
In a recent paper, infectious disease experts explain how viral antibodies, contained in the blood serum of patients who have already recovered from the new coronavirus, could be injected into other people. This could potentially offer short-term protection and ultimately prevent the virus from becoming to severe.
The “passive antibody therapy” reportedly dates back to the late 19th century. Reports show that it was commonly used during the 20th century to help stem outbreaks of measles, polio, mumps, and influenza (flu).
In basic terms, having your body injected with the blood of someone who has already been infected and survived the virus, will theoretically help your body build up antibodies to fight the virus.
A team at Johns Hopkins University says it could be a crucial and practical tool in the current fight against COVID-19.
“Deployment of this option requires no research or development,” says immunologist Arturo Casadevall, adding, “It could be deployed within a couple of weeks since it relies on standard blood-banking practices.”
“It’s a good idea. It’s something that’s been used before, and we know how to do it,” said Dr. Gregory Poland, who heads the Vaccine Research Group at the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota.
