Howard County General Hospital Offers Monoclonal Antibody Treatment For COVID-19
ELLICOTT CITY, Md. (WJZ) -- A team of doctors and Executive Calvin Ball stand outside the physician lot of Howard County General Hospital Tuesday to introduce Monoclonal Antibody Treatment - a big win in the fight against Covid-19.
Interim President of HCGH, Dr. Shafeeq Ahmed is among them speaking at the podium.
"Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory made proteins that mimic the immune system's ability fight off harmful pathogens such as viruses specifically in this case, Covid 19," he said.
It's a one time treatment given through an I-V, similar to the one President Trump received last October. This is the latest kickstart to a race that's taken 265 lives in Howard County.
"When received within 10 days of symptom onset, monoclonal antibodies help prevent worsening symptoms and hospitalizations in certain high risk populations and patients who are positive with Covid-19."
In early March, WJZ told you monoclonal antibodies were being offered to patients at Meritus Health in western Maryland. It's been approved by the FDA as an emergency use authorization.
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball thanks the work of his team before addressing the introduction.
"This initiative at Howard County General is another important step to remove barriers, to care and ultimately keep our residents safe." Dr. Ball said.
Those barriers include more than 18,000 confirmed cases. While this isn't a cure, doctors see this as a much needed step in the right direction.
For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department's website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ's coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.
