Pakistani patient who recovered from coronavirus donates blood plasma for treatment
Haematologist Dr Saqib Ansari says coronavirus patients will be treated through passive immunisation
April 02, 2020
Yahya Jafri, a coronavirus survivor from Pakistan, has donated his plasma to doctors to help them in the fight against the novel infection.
In a press conference on Thursday, Jafri said that he is ready to help his country in any way and thanked God for his recovery from the illness.
“This virus will become history and our efforts will be remembered,” said Jafri, while speaking alongside hematologist expert Dr Saqib Ansari.
Dr Ansari told media that Jafri was diagnosed with the coronavirus last month, and after recovering from the infection, donated his plasma so that others can be cured.
“FDA will use the plasma to create anti-bodies,” said Dr Ansari. He came with his parents to make the donation. Coronavirus patients will be treated through passive immunization, said the hematologist.
However, the doctor clarified that not every corona patient requires a plasma. He added that the machine used to treat dengue virus patients also works on those suffering from the coronavirus. But he added that they were waiting on the government’s decision on the matter.
“We have to stop the spread, [carry out] treatment and [end] panic in the society,” said Dr Ansari while explaining the threats doctors face.
The donation comes as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Pakistan climbed to 2,360 on Thursday after the country reported more cases. The death toll has reached 34.
