Ebola Vaccine May Be Near
According to a BBC report, US scientists were given permission to conduct human trials with an Ebola vaccine after a new drug was proven to be effective on monkeys.
Ebola is transmitted via bodily fluids and causes death in 90% of human cases, but is always fatal to apes.
Of great concern is that the Ebola virus could be used as a bioweapon by terrorists. Ebola’s high mortality rate prompted increased funding into research for a treatment in the US after the September 11th attacks in 2001
The BBC reported that scientists found that the new drug cured the virus in 60% of rhesus monkeys. As a result, the US Food and Drug Administration have now given permission for trials involving a small group of human volunteers.
According to the BBC, scientists caution that despite the apparent recent progress, a full vaccine will take time to develop with more extensive trials and assessment needed.
