A Zambian herbalist claims he has found a cure for the deadly Ebola virus.

In an interview with Lusaka’s Radio Phoenix, Howard Maila, who is also a basic school teacher in the country, says when administered, his formula “Mailacin Formulation” which is antiviral in nature, cures infected patients within 2-3 days.

Ebola has killed hundreds of people in West Africa and has been declared an international public health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Maila claims his medicine was found to be non-toxic by WHO and the Ministry of Health in Zambia after a laboratory assessment. He says he once used the medicine on a patient from Congo DR who was cured after taking it orally.

“It will be very much advisable to take it during the incubation period” he said.

He has since appealed to the government to conduct further tests on his formula so that it can be used to help countless victims in West Africa.

But Zambia’s Health Minister, Dr. Joseph Kasonde has advised that there is a designated body, the Tropical Diseases Research Centre which can offer guidance to those with claims of an Ebola cure or any other disease in Zambia.