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DR Congo Ebola vaccine trial to begin within weeks, says WHO
ஏன் செய்தியில்?
An Ebola vaccine for one strain, tested on another: the Ervebo cross-protection trial GS-III Science and Health tests
The WHO says a full-scale human trial will begin within weeks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to test whether Ervebo gives cross-protection against Bundibugyo ebolavirus. Ervebo is a vaccine approved for use against the more common Zaire strain of Ebola.
Why it matters: general awareness
What you need to know
2 நிமிடம்
The WHO says a full-scale human trial will begin within weeks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to test whether Ervebo gives cross-protection against Bundibugyo ebolavirus.
Ervebo is a vaccine approved for use against the more common Zaire strain of Ebola.
ஆதாரங்கள்: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
முக்கிய உண்மைகள்
Remember these
- WHO says a full-scale human trial will begin within weeks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- The trial will test whether Ervebo gives cross-protection against Bundibugyo ebolavirus
- Ervebo is approved for use against the Zaire strain of Ebola, the more common strain
- Bundibugyo ebolavirus is a different Ebola species from Zaire ebolavirus
- WHO is the UN specialised agency for global health, headquartered in Geneva
ப்ரிலிம்ஸ் · மெயின்ஸ்
How the exam will ask it
ப்ரிலிம்ஸ்
- Ervebo is a vaccine approved against the Zaire strain of Ebola virus.
- Cross-protection means a vaccine against one strain may also protect against a related strain; the DRC trial will test this for Bundibugyo ebolavirus.
- Ebola is a viral haemorrhagic fever caused by viruses of the genus Orthoebolavirus, with several distinct species including Zaire and Bundibugyo.
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the site of the planned WHO-announced human trial.
மெயின்ஸ்
GS-III (Science and Technology, health) and GS-II (international organisations). Issue: vaccines exist for only one Ebola species, leaving outbreaks of other strains such as Bundibugyo without a licensed vaccine. Policy: WHO-coordinated trials in affected countries test whether an approved vaccine gives cross-protection. Implication and way forward: faster ring-vaccination readiness, stronger surveillance and equitable access to vaccines, with India building its own outbreak preparedness and research capacity.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
Consider the following statements about the Ebola vaccine Ervebo:
- It is approved for use against the Zaire strain of Ebola.
- It is already approved against the Bundibugyo strain.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
விடையைக் காட்டு
விடை: A — 1 only is correct. Only statement 1 is correct. Ervebo is approved against the Zaire strain; the planned trial in the DRC will test whether it offers cross-protection against Bundibugyo.
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