New drug tried on British Ebola sufferer

Ebola sufferer William Pooley has been treated with experimental drug ZMapp, medical staff said today.

Mr Pooley, Britain’s first confirmed Ebola sufferer, is being treated at the Royal Free Hospital in north London.

Dr Michael Jacobs, consultant and clinical lead in infectious diseases at the hospital, said: “We have had the opportunity to give him the ZMapp treatment that I am sure you are aware of.

“It is an experimental medicine, we made that absolutely clear in our discussions with him.”

ZMapp has been dubbed by some as the “cure” after two aid US workers were successfully treated for Ebola after taking it.

Dr Jacobs added: “What has become apparent to us is that he is clearly a rather resilient and remarkable young man.”