Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Helen Branswell
Published on 2024-02-12 18:11:51
A new study has confirmed that the Ebola vaccine has major life-saving benefits for people infected with the virus. The study, based on data from the 2018-2020 Ebola Zaire outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, showed that people who had been vaccinated with the Ervebo vaccine before showing symptoms of the disease had a significantly lower risk of dying compared to those who were unvaccinated. This study provides crucial evidence that the Ebola vaccine can save lives, even when administered after exposure to the virus.
The study, published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal, revealed that the risk of dying from Ebola was halved among individuals who had received a single dose of the Ervebo vaccine before developing symptoms of the disease. Even those who were vaccinated a day or two before becoming ill saw a substantial benefit. The fatality rate among those vaccinated two or fewer days before symptom onset was 27%, compared to 56% among unvaccinated individuals.
Rebecca Coulborn, an epidemiologist at Doctors Without Borders, described the findings as a “huge” breakthrough, confirming that vaccination is beneficial, even when administered late. The study analyzed data from 2,279 confirmed Ebola patients from the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, showcasing the impact of the vaccine on reducing the fatality rate of the disease.
The research also highlighted the vaccine’s potential to improve the survival odds of individuals who had already contracted Ebola. Before the development of effective antibody therapies for Ebola Zaire, the Ervebo vaccine was considered the best hope for anyone exposed to the virus, given the high case fatality rate of ebolaviruses, which can be upwards of 50%.
Although an earlier attempt to replicate the post-exposure benefits of the vaccine in primates failed, the recent study in the DRC verified the life-saving impact of the vaccine in people. The findings showed that vaccinated individuals were less viremic, meaning they had significantly lower levels of the virus in their bodies, which contributed to their survival. The study also confirmed that vaccinated individuals were still effectively treated with Ebola antibody products if they developed the disease.
The results of this study provide crucial reassurance that the Ebola vaccine can be used to save lives, even in post-exposure settings. The findings have significant implications for the containment of Ebola outbreaks and the treatment of infected individuals. Future research will continue to explore the vaccine’s potential to enhance survival and reduce transmission rates during Ebola outbreaks.
Overall, the study underscores the importance of ongoing research and development of vaccines to combat infectious diseases, as well as the potential for the Ebola vaccine to play a pivotal role in saving lives and controlling outbreaks.
