Researchers in Winter Haven have discovered a drug that could not only fight Ebola but also a whole list of other viruses.
Daryl Thompson and Joseph Ahern, PhD have created a drug called Equivir. The drug prevents the Ebola virus from attaching itself to cells in your body.
"It is keeping the virus from hijacking your machinery," says Dr. Ahern. "It's like a car hijacker. The virus comes in there and throws you out of the way and it takes over your machinery and starts making copies of itself and this really stops that hijacking."
But the drug doesn't stop there.
Researchers say it uses the same method to prevent the spread of the flu, SARS, and possibly even the common cold.
Their research has sparked the attention of the Nobel Prize Committee which has nominated them for a peace price.
The Nobel committee will announce the prize winners in October.
Meanwhile the team in Winter Haven expect to use their drug to fight a Ebola in Africa this fall.