Canada, the center of Ebola drug scramble

Over the last three years, the African continent has been making headlines. From the Arab spring that started in Egypt and spread to Tunisia and Libya and now to Nigeria and Cameroon where Boko Haram militants are causing havoc. Correspondingly, the poorly developed continent has yet another uninvited visitor – the deadly Ebola virus which is destroying the continent at catastrophic rapidity.

 Canada is preparing to send approximately 1, 000 species of experimental Ebola vaccines to the countries greatly affected by the virus Cameroon Concord has learnt. Canada is equally anticipating the passing of the “gut-wrenching” political decision to determine those to benefit from their medical aid to the African continent. According to Globe and Mall,  Canada is the first Western nation that has offered a potential vaccine that can help to stop the spread of the virus.

 Dr. Gary Kobinger, Chief of Special Pathogens at the Winnipeg National Microbiology Laboratory who masterminded the development of the vaccine revealed that it is a very crucial step in the establishment of the foundation of a potential cure. Dr. Kobinger’s team have also developed two mono-clonol antibodies that form the foundation of the experimental Ebolo treatment call Zmapp. How our corrupt African governments intend to manage the Canadian medical aid remains to be seen. Some pro human rights groups have already expressed concerns over what measures are going to be enacted to ensure fairness enabling that the vaccines do get to the needy population without being derailed into private pharmacies?