First Phase of Ebola Vaccine Trials is 'Promising'

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States, researchers have taken a promising step closer to the development and expansion of the Ebola vaccine with the completion of the first phase of trials; however, it will still be months before it can be used in crisis-stricken areas. The latest developments in the fight against the worst known outbreak of Ebola come as the deadly virus has claimed the lives of 5,500 people so far, and despite some successes in containing it in the future, the United Nations states that there is still a 'long battle' ahead against this disease. AFP reports that in the first phase, trials were conducted on 20 healthy volunteers. These volunteers received either lower or higher doses of the vaccine, and all of them successfully produced the necessary antibodies to fight Ebola. The results of these trials were published on December 5 in the 'New England Journal of Medicine.' Reuters states that the trials began on September 2 and the volunteers will be monitored for 48 weeks. Nevertheless, the production of Ebola antibodies in the volunteers' bodies is considered a promising sign that may ultimately prevent further outbreaks of this disease, which the UN Security Council has labeled a 'threat to global security.' Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General, stated at the end of November that if the international community accelerates its efforts, there is a possibility of ending the outbreak by mid-next year. Ebola still has no specific and approved medication or treatment, and the methods and drugs used against it are in experimental stages. Despite initial successes in producing the Ebola vaccine, there remains a long way to go for widespread development and use among the large number of patients affected in West Africa. The NIH states that vaccine producers at NIAID are actively engaged in negotiations with officials from Liberia and other allies to conduct the next phase of trials in West Africa, which is not expected to happen before early next year.