New Delhi, June 13 (IANS). According to a report, India is going to play an important role in the global efforts to deal with the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in Central Africa, as the Serum Institute of India (SII) is rapidly progressing the process of development and production of a vaccine targeting the Bandibugyo strain of the virus.
According to a report by Modern Diplomacy, this initiative is being done in collaboration with Oxford University and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). The project is also supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
It has been reported in the report that this vaccine named ChadOx1 BDBV is being prepared to provide protection against Bandibugyo Ebolavirus. This is a relatively rare strain of the virus that is linked to the outbreak currently spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and parts of Uganda.
Unlike the more popular Zaire strain of Ebola, there is currently no approved vaccine for the Bandibugyo variant. This is the reason why the development of this vaccine is considered very important.
This vaccine is based on the same viral vector technology that was used in the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. This will enable the process of large-scale production and distribution to proceed rapidly after the required dose is prepared for clinical trials.
Global health agencies are working to control the current Ebola outbreak and prevent its further spread. Under this, WHO has also accelerated the process of evaluation of this vaccine candidate.
According to available reports, more than 1,500 suspected cases of Ebola have been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda since the beginning of this year, while more than 650 people have died.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently said that an effective vaccine against the Bandibugyo strain could help control the current pandemic and also strengthen preparedness for future outbreaks.
Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya has also confirmed that the vaccine will be manufactured by the Serum Institute of India.
Meanwhile, no active case of Ebola has been recorded in India. However, surveillance has been increased by health officials and at airports. Arrangements have also been made for screening of passengers coming from affected countries and isolation, if necessary.
Experts have described the Ebola outbreak as a global health concern, and governments and vaccine manufacturers are racing to strengthen their preparedness and accelerate the process of vaccine development.
–IANS
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