Ebola Virus News Updates 2015: Vaccine Trials, Infection Path Tracing & Masked Symptoms in Pregnancy

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With the slowing down of recent Ebola infects in Guinea and Sierra Leone, the chances of testing experimental Ebola vaccines are slim to none.

The Ebola vaccine called rVSV-ZEBOV designed by a Canadian company could be the medicine that can protect human race against the disease. However, at the current low case count, testing its efficacy could be difficult.

According to Dr Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO representative for development of Ebola vaccines and drugs, if the rVSV-ZEBOV doesn't protect against Ebola, another would-be vaccine will be sent to trials. Dr Clifford Lane, clinical director for the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said, "If in two months there are no cases that would be a great celebration."

However, as long as there are cases, the people involved in the vaccine-making will be working hard to launch it.

In the wake of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, scientists are testing its infection path through genomes and its mutation. Through the disease's genetic sequences, the scientists were able to discover that efforts to prevent the outbreak last year were almost successful if not for the sick people who were crossing borders and spreading the disease, according to the Daily Times Gazette.

Some viruses even have new mutations because of human enzymes that affected the genome. Scientists are currently trying to connect the paths of infection and samples from countries hit by the virus are being analyzed.

Meanwhile, a news report of a pregnant woman who is infected with Ebola virus has showed no obvious symptoms of the disease such as vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding or body pain, according to CBC.

The 31-year-old woman reportedly went to a Liberian hospital with mild stomach pain and after routine testing, it was discovered that she was infected. After three days, symptoms were showing and within several days she and her baby were dead, according to a letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The reason why the virus was undetected in the woman for sometime could possibly be due to her pregnant body's reduced immune response, according to the scientists.

"The unique immunologic status of pregnant women might alter disease presentation and progression," said Dr Emma Akerlund of Médecins sans Frontières and two other colleagues. "This case highlights the challenges that clinicians may face in assessing pregnant women for possible infections, including Ebola, and the potential risk for health care staff."

It could also be possible that she may have infected others, but scientists could not say for sure because it is the only known case so far.