Fifty-one individuals aged 18 to 55 will take part within the trial of the ChAdOx1 NipahB vaccine, developed by researchers on the University of Oxford’s Pandemic Sciences Institute, the varsity stated in a press release.
Nipah virus is a devastating illness that may be deadly in round 75 per cent of circumstances. Outbreaks have occurred in international locations in South-East Asia, together with Singapore, Malaysia, Bangladesh and India, with a current outbreak in Kerala, India in September 2023.
Nipah virus is carried by fruit bats and may additionally be transmitted by contact with contaminated animals (corresponding to pigs) or from person-to-person by way of shut contact.
Despite the primary outbreaks of Nipah virus occurring 25 years in the past in Malaysia and Singapore, there are at present no authorized vaccines or therapies.
“Nipah virus was first identified in 1998, and yet 25 years on the global health community still has no approved vaccines or treatments for this devastating disease,” stated Professor Brian Angus, the trial’s Principal Investigator and Professor within the varsity’s Nuffield Department of Medicine.
“Due to the high mortality rate and the nature of Nipah virus transmission, the disease is identified as a priority pandemic pathogen. This vaccine trial is an important milestone in identifying a solution that could prevent local outbreaks occurring, while also helping the world prepare for a future global pandemic.”
The Nipah virus, which is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a precedence illness requiring pressing analysis, belongs to the identical household of paramyxoviruses as extra well-known pathogens like measles.
The scientists produced the vaccine towards Nipah virus utilizing the ChAdOx1 platform, the identical viral vector vaccine platform that was used for the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, and that has saved an estimated six million lives worldwide.
The venture will run over the subsequent 18 months, with additional trials anticipated to observe in a Nipah-affected nation.
Source: zeenews.india.com
