Scientists plan in the near future to test a new vaccine against the Ebola virus in humans
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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One of the pharmaceutical giants, GlaxoSmithKline company in the near future plans to conduct clinical trials on humans of a new vaccine against the Ebola virus, the outbreak of which caused the health officials of America to cooperate with pharmaceutical companies and scientists. The new vaccine is the first in the world and there is no official authorization for the use of the drug. Given that the Ebola virus, whose epidemic recently erupted in West Africa, killed more than a thousand people and physicians predict only further aggravation of the situation, the emergence of a vaccine is extremely necessary.
The test of a new drug against Ebola has already been carried out on animals, in particular primates, and the results of the experiment proved to be quite successful. A vaccine test in humans is planned in early autumn of this year. However, even if the tests are successful, the general availability of the drug should be expected no earlier than 2015. The specialists developed a new vaccine on the basis of chimpanzee adenovirus, in which several genes of the Ebola virus were planted. In the preparation there are no hazardous materials, and adenoviruses lead to the development of the common cold. Upon entering the cells, the content of the drug is released, the genes of the virus stimulate the formation of a protein, which in turn induces an immune reaction of the organism. Adenoviruses themselves do not reproduce. In addition, by early 2016, one of Johnson & Johnson's offices plans to conduct its own clinical trials of the vaccine, which should provide protection against viruses that belong to the same group as the Ebola virus.
The World Health Organization is concerned about the outbreak of the virus in Africa and believe that the disease can threaten world security. Ebola virus already affected about two thousand people, and the death rate from the disease has increased to 60%.
In the United States, authorities are already beginning to withdraw their representatives, who helped volunteers and doctors in West Africa. Companies that work in Africa also work. All those who return from the danger zone are placed in quarantine, which lasts three weeks. The state of emergency has already been introduced in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Liberia.
As the agency of international development in the USA noted, over 12 million dollars are needed to suppress the virus. The European Union allocated about $ 11 million to eliminate the epidemic.
The epidemic in West Africa could threaten world security, scientists believe. It is possible that the virus can break out of Africa, so the new drug has high expectations. Physicians recently found similar symptoms in a woman who returned from Africa. The woman was put in quarantine and now she is under observation.
The virus is transmitted contact - through the skin, mucous. You can get sick with Ebol fever when using clothes, appliances or personal hygiene products of an infected person. Particular care should be taken of those who have recently flown in from the African countries and at the first symptoms of malaise should immediately seek medical attention.
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