Oxford has begun human trials of a vaccine against the rare Nipah virus
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The University of Oxford has begun human trials of an experimental vaccine against the Nipah virus, an outbreak of which was recorded in India last year.
The first trial participants received doses of the vaccine over the past week, Reuters reported.
The vaccine is based on the same technology used in AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine.
Nipah virus was first discovered about 25 years ago in Malaysia. Then there were outbreaks of the disease in Bangladesh, India and Singapore.
This virus causes swelling of the brain and is fatal in 40-75% of cases, but vaccines against it are still being developed.
| Illustrative photo: Esbenklinker/Depositphotos |
At an early stage, 51 patients aged 18 to 55 will participate in the trials.
Scientists will study the immune response to the vaccine and its safety.
Further testing is expected to be conducted in the country affected by the virus.
Nipah has epidemic potential because it is carried by fruit-eating bats that live in areas where more than 2 billion people live.
This trial is a step forward in creating tools to protect against this deadly virus.”said Executive Director of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI) Ying-Kyu Yoon.
The study is led by the Oxford Vaccine Group and funded by CEPI.
In 2022, Moderna ( MRNA.O ) also began early-stage clinical trials of a Nipah virus vaccine.
What is known about Nipah virus?
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Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus, meaning it is transmitted from animals to humans, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains.
The natural carriers of the virus are members of the Pteroptera family, in particular fruit-eating bats, which are also called flying foxes. Pigs can also be infected with the Nipah virus.
Outbreaks occur almost every year in parts of Asia, particularly in Bangladesh and India. For example, in 2023, an outbreak of the virus was recorded in the Indian province of Kerala.
You should also be careful in the regions where flying foxes (bats of the genus Pteropus) live: Cambodia, Indonesia, Madagascar, the Philippines and Thailand.
Symptoms usually appear 4-14 days after contact with the virus. First appears fever (3-14 days) and headachethen cough, sore throat and difficulty breathing, vomiting.
After that, there may be a phase of brain swelling (encephalitis), the symptoms of which are drowsiness, convulsions, disorientation and confusion of consciousness. After the appearance of these symptoms, a person can fall into a coma within 24-48 hours.
Infection can lead to encephalitis (swelling of the brain) and even death.
Those who survive Nipah virus infection experience long-term side effects.
How to protect yourself from Nipah virus?
In areas where Nipah virus outbreaks have occurred (Bangladesh, Malaysia, India and Singapore), the following safety rules must be followed:
- wash hands regularly with soap and water;
- do not contact with bats and pigs;
- avoid places where bats nest;
- do not eat foods that may be contaminated by bats, such as raw date palm juice, raw fruit, or fruit that has been lying on the ground;
- avoid contact with blood or body fluids of infected people.
It will be recalled that earlier it was found that bats can mate without penetration.
Read also: Do bats really drink blood and get stuck in hair? The answer of animal rights activists
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