Zika vaccine may be ready for use by this year end, says developer | World News - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Zika vaccine may be ready for use by this year end, says developer

Reuters | By, Winnipeg
Jan 29, 2016 11:36 PM IST

Canadian scientist Gary Kobinger, part of a consortium working on the vaccine, said that the first stage of testing on humans could begin as early as August. If successful, that may allow the vaccine to be used during a public health emergency, in October or November.

A vaccine for the Zika virus, which has been linked to severe birth defects in thousands of infants, could be ready for emergency use before year-end, one of its lead developers said on Thursday, a timetable well ahead of estimates by US officials.

Researcher Clara Ocampo, leader and coordinator of Research in Biology and Vector Control of the International Training and Medical Research Center (CIDEIM) works with Aedes aegypti mosquitos in Cali.(REUTERS)
Researcher Clara Ocampo, leader and coordinator of Research in Biology and Vector Control of the International Training and Medical Research Center (CIDEIM) works with Aedes aegypti mosquitos in Cali.(REUTERS)

Canadian scientist Gary Kobinger, part of a consortium working on the vaccine, said that the first stage of testing on humans could begin as early as August. If successful, that may allow the vaccine to be used during a public health emergency, in October or November.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

“The first thing is to be ready for the worst,” Kobinger, who helped develop a trial vaccine that was successful in fighting Ebola in Guinea, said. “This vaccine is easy to produce. It could be cranked to very high levels in a really short time.” He did not say when it could be widely available.

The United States has two potential candidates for a Zika vaccine and may begin clinical trials in people by the end of this year, but there will not be a widely available vaccine for several years, US officials said on Thursday.

The mosquito-transmitted virus has been linked to brain damage in thousands of babies in Brazil. There is no proven vaccine or treatment for Zika, a close cousin of dengue and chikungunya, which causes mild fever and rash. An estimated 80% of people infected have no symptoms, making it difficult for pregnant women to know whether they have been infected.

In Geneva, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday that Zika is spreading “explosively” and could affect as many as four million people in the Americas.

Kobinger, the lead scientist on this project from Quebec City’s Laval University and head of special pathogens at Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, is working with the University of Pennsylvania.

Unlock a world of Benefits with HT! From insightful newsletters to real-time news alerts and a personalized news feed – it's all here, just a click away! - Login Now!

Get Latest World News along with Latest News from India at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On