Sedena donated 60 horses to Birmex for the production of serum against Covid-19

With the objective of produce equine serum which will be used for the treatment patients with coronavirus (Covid-19), the National Defense Secretariat (Sedena) He delivered 60 horses to biological and reagent laboratories in Mexico (Birmex).

This was reported on February 26 by Birmex via its social networks. In a statement, they made it clear that they were 15 males and 45 females of the Santa Gertrudis breed, which have a pure blood type that meets the proper specifications for plasma production.

Pedro Zenteno Santaella, CEO of Birmex, is the one who received the specimens at the Hyperimmune plasma production unit, located on the free Mexico-Pachuca highway, in the municipality of Tecámac, State of Mexico, and join the 80 copies which are already in the laboratory facilities.

Birmex clarified that all specimens will receive treatment and care in accordance with the provisions of Animal Protection Act.

At that time, Pedro Zenteno Santaella, general manager of #Birmex, receives 15 whole male horses and 45 mares from #SEDENA, which will be looked after and with optimal hygiene measures. They will only be used to make serums against # COVID19

Birmex has extensive experience in the preparation of horse serum, it is recognized worldwide as one of the best laboratories producing antiviperine and antacranic serums and has the necessary equipment and facilities to develop horse serum to treat Covid-19.

The National Council for Science and Technology is also collaborating in this project (Conacyt) and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (A) and professionals of Institute of Biotechnology.

It should be noted that the equines were sent after the Health Secretary formally requested the production of this plasma. However, specialists have clarified that this equine serum is not a vaccine and it is a complementary clinical treatment and therefore cannot be considered as a preventive resource.

These antibodies are separated from the plasma of horses for administration to COVID-19 patients, a disease that has so far resulted in 185,257 deaths in Mexico.

Even on January 11 at the nightly COVID-19 conference, the Under Secretary for Prevention and Health Promotion, the Dr Hugo López-Gatell, explained that its use can reduce human mortality by up to 40% .

It is a very well known, very proven and very safe technology. The experience of this treatment in other countries has shown a 40% decrease in mortality in people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the recovery time is shorter than in those who do not receive serum. equine.

In countries like Costa RicaHorses have also been immunized with COVID-19 proteins to induce their immune systems to produce specific antibodies. The government of this country has reported that plasma is 100 times more powerful than that obtained from human beings.

Also in Argentina eThis treatment generates high expectations, after having demonstrated more than 90% effectiveness in a group of inmates at the Corrientes Home School Field Hospital. Diego Farizano, Explained the head of the laboratory and clinical biochemistry department of the hospital to Infobae how hyperimmune equine serum is administered to patients.

“We follow the protocol in which the application of the serum is indicated to people between 18 and 79 years of age who have moderate to severe pneumonia or respiratory failure with symptoms in the sixth to tenth day of symptoms after a general evaluation according to the clinical course, and after a CT scan and saturometry performed. But they will not be able to receive it if they have first received convalescent plasma, ”explained Farizano.

And he added: “The patient receives two doses of 3 to 5 milliliters every 48 hours apart. The main effect of therapy is to decrease inflammation of the lungs. This means that they are not referred to intensive therapy with mechanical ventilation ”.

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