First Scotland Ebola patient may be offered recovered patients’ plasma

Nurse Pauline Cafferkey, who is battling Ebola at a London hospital, could be offered plasma from patients who have survived the virus.

The treatment contains antibodies that should help fight the infection.

Recovered Ebola patient, British nurse William Pooley has donated plasma, Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies confirmed.

Other available treatments include antiviral drugs, but there are no stocks left of ZMapp - the drug used to treat Mr Pooley.

He recovered from Ebola in September after being treated at the Royal Free Hospital, in Hampstead, north London, where Ms Cafferkey is currently being cared for.

Having fought off the infection, his blood should help others do the same.

Dame Sally said it would be up to Ms Cafferkey and her doctor to decide which treatments to use, adding: “The cornerstone of treatment remains fluid and electrolyte treatment.”