Close X
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
ADVT 
Health

'Ebola vaccine showing promising results'

Darpan News Desk IANS, 02 Dec, 2014 12:49 PM
    Two Ebola vaccines undergoing clinical trials have shown promising results and would be deployed in January 2015 to West African countries affected by the epidemic, a scientist from Oxford University said Monday.
     
    Speaking at a conference of African Immunologists in Nairobi, Adrian Hill, director of Oxford University's Jenner Institute, said the two vaccines will re-energise the fight against Ebola, Xinhua reported.
     
    "The two vaccines have demonstrated remarkable efficacy and have no side effects to Ebola patients. We anticipate their deployment will commence in January," Hill told African medical researchers.
     
    The World Health Organisation (WHO) Nov 29 revealed that 6,928 people have died of Ebola in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.
     
    At the same time, 16,000 people are infected with the Ebola virus and could succumb to death in the absence of proper treatment and care.
     
    Pharmaceutical giants, rich governments, foundations and multilateral agencies have contributed funds to support development of an Ebola vaccine.
     
    Hill said that clinical trials on Ebola vaccine have accelerated thanks to adequate funding and political attention.
     
    "Development of an Ebola vaccine is accelerating faster than anticipated. The vaccine is being tested in Mali where 80 people have received the jab," Hill said, adding that over 200 people have been vaccinated against Ebola globally.
     
    The clinical trials on Ebola vaccine commenced in September and the WHO will approve it once it passes efficacy and safety test.
     
    Hill revealed that pharmaceutical giants, British and American governments have collaborated to develop the Ebola vaccine.
     
    Clinical trials on Ebola vaccine have involved primates since the disease was discovered in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
     
    "There was a breakthrough in the clinical trials targeting monkeys and the next phase will focus on the vaccines` efficacy on humans," Hill told scientists.
     
    He emphasised the vaccine will be a game changer in the war against Ebola in West and Central Africa.
     
    "The vaccine will be availed to high risk groups like health workers and people involved in burials," Hill said. 

    MORE Health ARTICLES

    Living Kidney Donors Face Higher Health Risks During Later Pregnancies: Study

    Living Kidney Donors Face Higher Health Risks During Later Pregnancies: Study
    TORONTO — A new study says that women who have donated a kidney are at higher risk of developing gestational hypertension or a potentially dangerous condition called pre-eclampsia during pregnancies that follow the donation.

    Living Kidney Donors Face Higher Health Risks During Later Pregnancies: Study

    Over 400 cancer-causing 'hidden' faults detected in DNA

    Over 400 cancer-causing 'hidden' faults detected in DNA
    British scientists have discovered more than 400 "blind spots" in DNA which could hide cancer-causing gene faults....

    Over 400 cancer-causing 'hidden' faults detected in DNA

    Estrogen protects some women against heart disease

    Estrogen protects some women against heart disease
    Estrogens, also referred to as female sex hormones, have been thought to protect women from heart diseases and researchers have now found how they do so....

    Estrogen protects some women against heart disease

    How liver can improve diabetes management

    How liver can improve diabetes management
    Finding a way to stimulate glucose accumulation in the liver could help manage diabetes and obesity, shows a new research, paving the way for new...

    How liver can improve diabetes management

    Walnuts can slow down prostate cancer growth

    Walnuts can slow down prostate cancer growth
    “While they (walnuts) are high in fat, their fat does not drive prostate cancer growth. In fact, walnuts do just the opposite when fed to mice,” lead scientist and....

    Walnuts can slow down prostate cancer growth

    Tiny needles hold promise for two key eye diseases

    Tiny needles hold promise for two key eye diseases
    Needles too tiny to be seen with naked eyes can soon deliver drugs to specific areas relevant to two of the world's leading eye diseases - glaucoma and corneal....

    Tiny needles hold promise for two key eye diseases