Ebola Update: Experimental Vaccine To Be Tested On Humans Next Month

Brief information on what is going on concerning finding a permanent solution to the Ebola Out break:

• The U.S government will begin testing an experimental ebola vaccine on humans as early as next month
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• The first commerically-available preventative vaccine is likely to take two to six years to be developed; lack of funding is a threat to how fast this vaccine can come out.
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• There are at least four vaccines that can prevent ebola in primates.

'The hang-up point with these vaccines is the phase I trials in humans. That’s where scientists get frustrated because we know these vaccines protect animals and we don’t quite understand the regulatory process of why things can’t move faster. I can’t give you an answer as to why it’s taking so long.'

         Dr. Thomas Geisbert  (University of Texas)

To whom it may concern, Humans are more important than animals so please release the funds for the scientists to do their job.

REMINDER:


Those at risk during an outbreak include:

• health workers
• family members or others in close contact with infected people
• mourners with direct contact with the bodies of deceased victims
• hunters in contact with dead animals

Typical signs and symptoms?

Sudden onset of fever, intense weakness,  muscle pain, headache and sore throat. That is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function and internal and external bleeding.

The incubation period is between two and 21 days. A person will become contagious once they start to show symptoms.


When should you seek medical care?

If a person is in an area affected by the outbreak, or has been in contact with a person known or suspected to have Ebola, they should seek medical help immediately.


What is the treatment?

Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. They need intravenous fluids to rehydrate them.

But there is currently no specific treatment for the disease. Some patients will recover with the appropriate care.


Can Ebola be prevented?

Currently there is no licensed vaccine for Ebola. Several are being tested but are not available for clinical use.


Is it safe to travel to affected areas?

The World Health Organisation reviews the public health situation regularly, and recommends travel or trade restrictions if necessary. The risk of infection for travellers is very low since person-to-person transmission results from direct contact with bodily fluids of victims.

Source: World Health Organisation