That perfect vaccine and treatment reliable to combat the deadly Ebola virus has not been identified, Time noted. According to the outlet, the disease has killed over 11,000 people in West Africa.
But the unfortunate saga may finally see its highly-anticipated finale. On Friday, scientists published "game-changing" results on the medical journal The Lancet, bringing hope to stricken African nations.
As cited by ABS-CBN, scientists tested Merck and NewLink Genetics' rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine on some 4,000 people who had been in close contact with a confirmed Ebola case. Interestingly, results showed complete protection after 10 days.
Sponsoring the study, Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, expressed via Time, "If proven effective, this is going to be a game-changer." She added that the results would "change the management of the current Ebola outbreak and future outbreaks."
It is no secret that scientists and researchers struggled for years to develop effective Ebola treatments and vaccines.
Held in Guinea, the promising Ebola trial began on March 23 with the purpose of evaluating a single dose of rVSV-ZEBOV via "ring vaccination," ABS-CBN wrote. Immunization for contacts and "contacts of contacts" were either given immediately or delayed. The delayed method didn't pursue to date, since it is deemed unethical.
So how is the study conducted?
The first group of 4,000 people received a single-shot of rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine within 10 days of contact with the patient. The other group of 3,500 people got the shot more than 10 days after exposure to the virus.
Results showed that the first group did not develop any Ebola case. Unfortunately, the second group (received delayed vaccination) revealed 16 cases of the disease.
Interpretation of the outcome states that, "The results of this interim analysis indicate that rVSV-ZEBOV might be highly efficacious and safe in preventing Ebola virus disease, and is most likely effective at the population level when delivered during an Ebola virus disease outbreak via a ring vaccination strategy."
Initially, the Canadian public health agency developed the vaccine. The license was eventually transferred to NewLink Genetics, which, later on, signed a deal with American pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. to pursue development.
Merck & Co., based in Kenilworth, New Jersey, noted that its vaccine is in the final round of human testing in Sierra Leone and mid-stage testing in Liberia, Time stated. The company will start to manufacture the vaccine once it's approved for use beyond research.
For more information about Ebola, its transmission, signs and symptoms, head over here.
