COVID-19: Karnataka initiates Phase I clinical trials to use Convalescent Plasma Therapy

Karnataka on Saturday initiated phase one of the clinical trials to use the Convalescent Plasma Therapy to treat severe COVID-19 infected patients.

Taking to Twitter, Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu stated the BMC Victoria hospital has taken the first step to start the therapy. He further wished the doctors of the hospital a great success. According to him, it is a "torchbearer" in the fight against Coronavirus. 

Currently, in Karnataka, there are a total of 474 cases of Coronavirus, out of which, 152 have been recovered, while 18 people have succumbed to the infection. 

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About Plasma Therapy 

The antibodies created to fight the infection remain in a person's blood even after his/her recovery from the novel coronavirus. If such an individual donates blood, the plasma which has a high concentration of the antibodies can be transfused to a COVID-19 patient. This could help boost the immune system of the latter.

Read: Karnataka medical stores to maintain record of people buying drugs for flu-like symptoms

COVID-19 cases in India 

According to the latest update from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, the number of total Coronavirus cases in the country has climbed to 24,506, including 18,668 active cases. While 775 deaths have been reported overall, around 5,063 people have been cured/discharged/migrated. Meanwhile, Maharashtra and Delhi have the highest number of cases in the country. 

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Read: India's COVID-19 cases cross 24,500; Death toll at 775 and 5,063 recoveries thus far