A Nose spray ebola vaccine has successfully treated monkeys
infected with the virus, even a year after they’ve been vaccinated –
American researchers say.
The vaccine, which is sprayed up the nose, uses a common cold virus
genetically engineered to carry a tiny piece of Ebola DNA. According to
researchers from the University of Texas at Austin’s College of
Pharmacy, it has already saved nine monkeys infected with the Ebola
virus.
A
laboratory at the University of Texas in Austin has developed a
needle-free Ebola vaccine that can be administered through nasal spray
And as the logical next stage are tests in people (most likely health
care workers, who are at high risk of infection) the research needs
funding. It is now a matter of insurgency and therefore, the team of
researchers are seeking either a drug company, or the federal
government, or both, to work together.
The nasal vaccine targets cells in the nasal passages and in the
lungs, and caused a body-wide immune system response. It affects what
are called the mucosa, and means protection again the virus entering the
eyes, nose and mouth, as well as through a cut in the skin.
Several Ebola vaccines have been in the works for years. But until
this current epidemic in West Africa, which has infected more than
13,000 people, there wasn’t a real push to bring such a vaccine to
market. This one has been developed over the last seven.
