Ebola epidemic Canada delivers vaccine

Ebola epidemic: Canada delivers vaccine

19/10/2014

The Ebola epidemic in West Africa has already killed around 4,500 people. Because there is still no cure or approved vaccine against the deadly infectious disease, patients can only be treated for Ebola symptoms. Canada will now provide a vaccine that has shown promising results in animal studies.

Canada provides vaccine
According to recent data from the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 4,550 people have died of Ebola in West Africa. Particularly affected are the countries of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. In more than seven nations, more than 9,200 cases have been reported so far. A cure or approved vaccine is still not available. As a result, physicians usually have to confine themselves to alleviating the symptoms of the deadly infectious disease. Now, however, renewed hope on. According to press reports, Canada will provide WHO with a vaccine to fight the virus.

Promising results in animal experiments
It is said that the vaccine has not yet been tested on humans but has been tested in animals „auspicious results“ achieved. The WHO said that the substance is currently being tested on humans and will soon be decided on how the experimental drug will be redistributed and used. Already in August, the North American country had announced that it would deliver the VSV-EBOV vaccine developed in Canada to the WHO for use in Africa. Both sides, however, had still argued about logistical and ethical issues. According to the government, the now announced 800 units of the drug will be shipped to Geneva from Monday in three separate deliveries to the WHO headquarters. It has been stated that they must be kept at extremely low temperatures throughout the time. Due to lack of experience is still unclear how many people can be treated with it.

If successful, vaccination could start in early 2015
The US company NewLink Genetics has the license for the commercial use of the vaccine. In August, the company said it would be able to produce tens of thousands of units of the remedy within a month or two. Other companies are also researching similar products. For example, the British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline announced on Saturday that research would progress faster than expected. Preliminary results are expected in 2014 and, if successful, vaccination of medical personnel in Africa could begin in early 2015.

Stronger commitment required
On Saturday, the aid organization Oxfam warned that there was only a two-month window to stop the epidemic. Meanwhile, the German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (SPD) called for a stronger engagement of the international community. Steinmeier will be the conference starting this Sunday „World Health Summit“ (World Health Summit), where experts from around 90 countries want to discuss, inter alia, the Ebola epidemic. The US President, Barack Obama, called on the population not to fall into an Ebola hysteria. (Ad)