The World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that Ebola vaccine testing in West Africa will start in January 2015.
Combating the deadly Ebola virus disease (EVD) is on the top of the agenda for WHO. The disease has already affected thousands of people in West Africa and WHO officials are working hard to contain the disease. The rapid spread of disease is estimated to affect more than 1.4 million people in Africa if not restricted.
Currently, there are no official vaccinations for the treatment of Ebola; however, it seems promising after Dr. Marie Paule Kieny, the assistant director general for health system and innovation at WHO revealed that some vaccines will be ready for use in the West African countries.
WHO also revealed that two vaccines are being developed to fight Ebola. One of the medicines is being made by the U.S. government in collaboration with British multinational pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK).
Another vaccine is being developed by the Canadian government and the license to make the medicine is given to NewLink Genetics, a small company based in Ames, Iowa.
Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia are the hardest-hit countries of West Africa and majority of the Ebola-related deaths have been reported in these regions. These three countries are expected to receive the first batch of the vaccination in early 2015 but they first have to go through human trials in the U.S.
The Canadian company is said to have sent 800 vials of the vaccine to WHO that will be tested on volunteers.
"These data are absolutely crucial to allow decision-making on what dose level should go in the efficacy testing in Africa," says Kieny. "We expect, we hope, to have a go-ahead by the end of the month."
The Canadian and the American medicines are expected to develop immunity against the EVD. Both the medicines have been tested on animals and have shown promising results.
There are other Ebola medicines in development by other companies and institutions; however, they may not be available before the GSK or NewLink Genetics makes their way to Africa.
Even though the testing in West Africa will start in early 2015, it is not known which regions will get the medicines first. Healthcare workers are believed to be the first ones to get vaccinated so that they can help others who are affected with the disease.
WHO will hope that both the vaccines make their way to Ebola-hit regions as soon as possible so that they can save lives of hundreds and thousands of people.
