EBOLA: CANADA OFFERS 1000 DOSE OF EXPERIMENTAL VACCINE TO AFRICA

The Canadian Public Health Agency has offered to release 1000 dose of a made-in-Canada experimental Ebola virus vaccine known as VSV-EBOV which has never been tested on humans but has shown to be effective in the treatment of the disease in animals.


In a statement released yesterday August 12th, the Canadian Health Minister Rona Ambrose said the World Health Organization's Director general, Margaret Chan, has approved of the donation.


The Minister also revealed that Canada will be donating $185,000 to the World Health Organization for the prevention and control of the deadly virus in Africa. Canada has only 1500 of the experimental vaccine and would be sending 1000 of it to Africa. Continue...





"I was pleased to offer the experimental vaccine developed by Canadian researchers as a global resource to help fight this outbreak," she said, adding that between 800 and 1,000 doses would be donated to the WHO.

The Minister in the statement added that "Canada feels this experimental vaccine is a global resource, so in response we are sharing it with the international community, while keeping a small supply in Canada."


The news comes hours after the World Health Organization said a panel of experts advised that it would be ethical to use untested drugs and vaccines in this raging epidemic, which is several times larger than any previous outbreak.

Read More

LIBERIA SHUTS SCHOOLS TO TACKLE EBOLA OUTBREAK

Liberia’s government has announced that it is
closing down all schools across the country
to stop the spread of the deadly Ebola virus.
Some communities would be placed under
quarantine as well, President Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf said.
Non-essential government workers will be
sent home for 30 days and the army
deployed to enforce the measures.
The number of people killed by the virus in
West Africa has now reached 672, according
to new UN figures.
The BBC’s West Africa correspondent Thomas
Fessy says treatment facilities have
reportedly been overwhelmed in the Liberian
capital Monrovia.
Ebola virus disease (EVD)
Symptoms include high fever, bleeding
and central nervous system damage
Fatality rate can reach 90%
Incubation period is two to 21 days
There is no vaccine or cure
Supportive care such as rehydrating
patients who have diarrhoea and vomiting
can help recovery
Fruit bats are considered to be virus’
natural host
Some wards have already filled up, forcing
health workers to treat some patients at their
homes.
President Sirleaf said that Friday 1 August
would be a non-working day in Liberia to
allow for the disinfection of all public
facilities.
“All non-essential staff – to be determined by
the heads of ministries and agencies – are to
be placed on 30 days’ compulsory leave,” she
added.

Read More