Thailand reports apparent success in treating nCoV with anti-viral drugs mix
Thailand’s health ministry, according to Agence France-Presse, said that the patient, a 71-year-old Chinese woman infected with the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) showed a dramatic improvement after she was treated with a cocktail of anti-virals used to treat flu and HIV. The patient tested negative for the virus 48 hours after Thai doctors administered the combination, doctor Kriengsak Attipornwanich said during the ministry’s daily press briefing.
The doctors combined the anti-flu drug oseltamivir with lopinavir and ritonavir, anti-virals used to treat HIV, Kriengsak said, adding the ministry was awaiting research results to prove the findings.
Thailand has recorded 19 cases of the 2019-nCoV. Eight of these patients in Thailand have recovered and returned home, while 11 remain in hospital. The country also announced its first case of human-to-human transmission of the new coronavirus on Friday. The patient, a Thai cab driver, who has not travelled to China, is suspected to be infected by a sick traveller from China, according to Tanarak Pipat, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Disease Control.
Meanwhile, Philippines’ Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has reportedly said that the administered antiviral combination is still being validated by the World Health Organization (WHO). The Philippines recorded the first nCoV death outside of China.
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