Russia Develops Vaccine Against New Ebola Strain: Health Minister
According to the embassy, the vaccine may also provide protection against the rare Bundibugyo strain linked to the outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo
Moscow: The Russian Embassy in South Africa said that Russian scientists have developed a vaccine against a new Ebola virus strain.
The embassy stated that Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko made the announcement. According to the embassy, the vaccine may also provide protection against the rare Bundibugyo strain linked to the outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO), under the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005, on May 17 determined the situation to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) following Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
According to a press release issued by India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) also declared the ongoing Bundibugyo strain Ebola outbreak affecting Congo and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS).
The WHO IHR Emergency Committee on May 22 issued temporary recommendations to strengthen disease surveillance at points of entry to detect and manage travellers with unexplained fever arriving from affected regions.
The committee also discouraged travel to areas where the Bundibugyo virus has been detected.
According to the press release, countries bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, including South Sudan, are considered to be at high risk of disease transmission.
Ebola disease is a viral haemorrhagic fever caused by infection with the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. It is a severe disease with a high mortality rate.
At present, no vaccines or specific treatments have been officially approved to prevent or treat Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo strain.
