Ebola Vaccine 100% Effective Against Disease

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Researchers based in Guinea have developed a vaccine to prevent Ebola virus infection. The trials conducted by the researchers reveal that the vaccine is up to 100 percent effective against the Ebola virus, and promises new hope for patients and people living in high-risk areas. 

The vaccine is known as rVSV-ZEBOV and was developed by Merck and NewLink Genetics, reports TechTimes. Trials were conducted between March and July of this year, stated IRIN.

According to the New York Times, the study's results were published in The Lancet, a British medical journal. In the published study, researchers wrote that the Ebola vaccine "might be highly efficacious and safe in preventing Ebola virus disease." 

The break-through vaccine was tested on over 5,000 participants, including healthcare workers who were constantly exposed to infected patients. Tech Times elaborated that 1,200 frontline workers, who were usually involved with burying infected corpses and other high-risk assignments, were inoculated with the vaccine.

Meanwhile the NY Times clarified that the other participants in the trials were people who either came into contact with patients already diagnosed with the virus or the contacts of people who might have been infected with the disease.  

Some of the patients were immediately vaccinated, while others were inoculated after 21 days, which also happens to be the maximum incubation time before the virus spreads throughout the body. 

None of the patients who were immediately vaccinated contracted the disease ten days after being inoculated. Only 16 of the people who were not immediately vaccinated were diagnosed with the disease after ten days. 

The NY Times explained that a period of ten days was given before analyzing the patients to give the vaccine time to work, since it was probable that some of the participants were already carrying the virus. 

The authors of the study subsequently reported that the vaccine was 75 to 100 percent effective after an analysis.

Even though the vaccine has proven to be highly effective in preventing Ebola infection, several key players involved in the study reminded people to take caution. 

Dr. Margaret Chan, director general of the World Health Organization, commented that the vaccine's creation heralds good news for the fight against Ebola, but it does not replace any steps that heath workers are already taking. 

"There is no replacement for very strong and good, resilient health systems with the capability for surveillance," Dr. Chan said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Bertrand Graguez, from Medecins Sans Frontieres, stated that more research needs to be done on the vaccine before distribution. Researchers still need to identify several important components about the vaccine, like when it starts to work and how long it stays effective, added Dr. Graguez.