Ebola Outbreak Update 2014: Treatment, Aid to Be Sent to West African Countries
The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved streamlining the testing of a vaccine to help control the strain of the Ebola virus outbreak in western African countries.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the FDA wants to begin clinical trials for a vaccine this fall, which would -- if proven effective -- be available for mass production by 2015.
As of Wednesday, more than 930 deaths from the virus were reported in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria. Nigeria is the most recent country to join the list.
The vaccine has been developed by the U.S. military and will detect the strain of Ebola -- Zaire -- that has been affecting the West African countries.
"The test is designed for use in individuals, including Department of Defense personnel and responders, who may be at risk of infection as a result of the outbreak," FDA spokeswoman Stephanie Yao said in a statement, according to the LA Times.
The vaccine would help prevent infection and thereby control the spread, but it will not be available until next year. In the meantime, several treatment drugs are in the works, one of which was already used on an Ebola patient who was brought back to the U.S. recently.
The patient reacted positively to the drug, Zmapp, and it is now approved for use overseas as part of a diagnostic test on military personnel, aid workers and emergency responders who are at risk or have already been infected, according to Fox.
In addition, USAID is partnering with the Center for Disease Control and the Department of Health and Human Services to implement the plans in the affected countries, as well as provide sanitary kits which will include gloves, soap, bleach and masks.
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