Human trial of experimental Ebola vaccine : Vivie Behrens (6th period)

   

     The U.S. Food and Drug Administration just approved the first ever experimental Ebola vaccine for human trials. The trials will be administered by the National Institutes of Health in hope to prevent the spread of this fatal disease, which has become prominent in West Africa. The trial will start with a small group of 3 to 5 volunteers and will gradually be introduced to larger groups, assuming that the vaccine does not cause any adverse effects in the human participants. Past studies have shown that this new vaccine had positive responses in tests on chimpanzees; however, this does not ensure that it will have beneficial effects in humans. Meanwhile, 10,000 additional doses are being manufactured so the World Health Organization can provide emergency doses of the vaccine in areas that have high risk for Ebola. In addition to this particular trial, other biotechnology firms are working to create different vaccinations (and hopefully treatments) for this disease that could potentially afflict  up to 20,000 people according to the New York Times. If this vaccination is approved, it will be a priority to administer it to officials that are helping prevent the spread of the virus.
      These studies are an integral factor in the fight to prevent and cure Ebola, a disease that causes fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, and death. This article in particular allows the world audience to understand how the Food and Drug Administration, The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the World Health Organization is responding to this concerning outbreak of Ebola, a fatal disease. Additionally, this article spreads awareness of the disease, as well as shows that healthy human participants are willing to compromise their own health in hope to prevent this disease, which inspires people to get involved in the eradication of this disease.

Source:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/28/health/ebola-vaccine-trial/index.html?hpt=he_c2
Author: Caleb Hellerman