Ebola - is a vaccine coming?
- Samantha White
- Jan 22, 2015
- 2 min read
Since February 2014, the Ebola virus has infected more than 20,000 people and claimed over 8,000 lives. The 3 countries most affected by the epidemic have been Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. Efforts to control the spread of the infection have included increased health care services through international aid, and the development of novel antiviral treatments and vaccines. The spread of Ebola has been slowed, however more effective treatment and prevention is needed to relieve the world of this deadly virus. The saying goes, "prevention is better than a cure", and The World Health Organisation (WHO) have coordinating efforts to develop a safe and effective vaccine against Ebola.
TWO potential vaccines are about the commence clinical trials after showing promising results in phase 1 human trials in Western research facilities. Both have been proven to be safe, and will be trialled in the Ebola affected countries in the near future.
cAd3-ZEBOV by GlaxoSmithKline - uses chimpanzee derived Adenovirus particles inserted with an Ebola virus gene.
rVSV-ZEBOV by the Public Health Agency of Canada - uses an attenuated Vesicular Stomatitis virus harbouring an Ebola virus gene.
Ebola has affected countries with poor infrastructure and limited resources to control the spread of the virus. It is important for international aid organisations such as Gavi, to assist the timely production and role-out of safe and effective vaccines to these poor nations, to prevent Ebola causing more deaths or spreading to other countries. Novel treatments such as new antiviral drugs (Brincidofivir and Favipravir) and antisera therapy from the plasma of Ebola survivors are also being investigated, however prevention is the best strategy. The development of an Ebola vaccine could see the end of this horrific virus, and resolve the current epidemic we're facing. Despite this, WHO director of essential medicines and health products, Kees De Joncheere stated, "...the best cure for Ebola is stronger health care systems". The world needs a cooporated effort to assist those in the crux of the Ebola crisis, and band together to provide aid, funding, resources, and research efforts. Vaccine development is looking promising, and the next few months should start to show results from these 2 novel Ebola vaccines.
Sources
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/ebola/01-october-2014/en/
http://www.who.int/medicines/news/AFR_reg_meet/en/
http://www.gavi.org/Library/News/Statements/2014/Gavi-Executive-Committee-requests-options-for-supporting-Ebola-vaccine/
http://www.gavi.org/Library/News/Press-releases/2014/Gavi-commits-to-purchasing-Ebola-vaccine-for-affected-countries/
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