There is a Vaccine for Ebola Virus

Some ten years ago, a vaccine that produced 100 percent protection against Ebola virus infection in monkeys was produced and patented by the Canadian government.  The vaccine was produced by the Canadian Public Health Agency, and between 800 and 1,000 vials were manufactured.  It was created by removing a gene from the vesicular stomatitis virus (which infects cattle and rarely, people) and inserting an Ebola surface protein gene.  This protein stimulated effective immunity in monkeys.   Safety tests of this vaccine have recently begun in humans.

The development of a vaccine may cost only a few million dollars, but bringing a human vaccine to market can cost up to 1.5 billion dollars.  Until recently, there was simply no market for this vaccine that could afford to pay for it.

If this vaccine works out as well as expected, it will make it possible to stop Ebola in West Africa.

A vaccine would provide powerful protection to health workers exposed to the virus; so far, more than 400 workers have fallen ill, and 233 have died.

Specialists at Emory University have learned that the virus is present on patient’s skin after symptoms have developed, making contact with sick patients even more dangerous.  The virus can survive for several hours on dry surfaces and several days in pools of fluid.  It is readily killed with bleach.

Symptoms of Ebola initially match those of flu: headache, fever, aches and pains, prostration.  Onset is usually eight to ten days but up to three weeks after exposure.  There is some apprehension because not all patients are reported to develop fever, only about 85 percent.  Sometimes a rash appears.  Then vomiting and diarrhea follow.  In about half the cases, after several days of worsening, bleeding begins, in vomitus, urine, or from the eyes and mouth and under the skin.  Bleeding (or rather leakage from deep internal vessels) eventually causes collapse of blood pressure and organ failure.

It is currently thought that bats are the natural reservoir for the Ebola virus, and that gorillas and humans are infected by contact with surfaces contaminated by bat droppings.  At first, it was thought that gorillas were the source, but with the current outbreak, the first cases came from a village where bat hunting is popular.