Zika: Vaccine trials for disease linked to 'shrunken heads' could start this year, officials say
Zika could spread 'explosively' according to the World Health Organisation
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Clinical trials for a vaccine for the Zika virus, which has been linked to brain damage in unborn children, may start by the end of the year, according to US officials.
Health experts in the US have said there are two potential candidates for the testing the vaccine on.
However, opinions on when the vaccine would be ready are conflicting. US officials said that the vaccine would not be ready for several years. But Canadian scientist Gary Kobinger, a lead developer for the vaccine, told Reuters that the first stage of human testing could start in early August – meaning it could be ready by autumn 2016.
Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease, said that one option is to base the vaccine on previous research into the West Nile virus, which was not previously developed because of a failure to find a drug company partner.
However, he said that this would not pose an issue for Zika and that officials have already spoken to “a few companies” able to help advance the development.
Dr Kobinger, who helped to develop a trial vaccine to fight Ebola, said: "The first thing is to be ready for the worst.
"This vaccine is easy to produce. It could be cranked to very high levels in a really short time."
However, he did not say when it would be available widely.
The race to develop a vaccine comes after the World Health Organisation said it is spreading “explosively” and warned that the mosquito-borne virus could infect up to four million people in the Americas.
While it manifests itself as a relatively harmless fever in most cases, it is most feared due to its links to microcephaly – where babies are born with heads which appear to be shrunken due to brain damage.
Since October 2015, it has been linked to severe birth defects in thousands of babies in Brazil.
Additional reporting by Reuters
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments