Russia developed vaccine against new Ebola strain: Health Minister Murashko
Moscow, May 27
The Russian Embassy in South Africa said that the Russian scientists have developed a vaccine against the new Ebola virus strain.
The embassy said that the Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko have made the announcement.
The embassy, citing the Russian scientists, said that the vaccine may also protect against the rare Bundibugyo strain linked to the outbreak in Congo.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO), under the International Health Regulations (IHR), 2005, on May 17, determined the situation to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in light of the reported outbreaks of Ebola disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda
According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has also officially declared the ongoing outbreak of Bundibugyo strain Ebola virus disease affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS).
Further, the WHO IHR Emergency Committee on May 22 issued temporary recommendations to strengthen disease surveillance at Points of Entry to "detect, assess, report and manage travellers with unexplained febrile illness arriving from areas with documented Bundibugyo virus detection" while also "discouraging travel to areas with documented Bundibugyo virus detection".
As per the press release, countries bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, including South Sudan, are assessed to be at high risk of disease transmission.
Ebola disease is a viral haemorrhagic fever caused by infection with the Bundibugyo virus strain of Ebola virus. It is a serious disease with a high mortality rate. At present, no vaccines or specific treatments have been approved to prevent or treat Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Impressive scientific progress indeed! 🌟 Ebola is terrifying with its high mortality rate. I hope Russia shares this vaccine widely and not just as a diplomatic tool. India has always supported global health initiatives, so we must ensure it reaches vulnerable populations in Congo and Uganda. But also, India needs to strengthen its own surveillance systems—look what happened with COVID!
As someone who follows global health closely, this is a significant development. The Bundibugyo strain has been particularly challenging because there's no approved vaccine yet. However, I'm cautious—how far along are the trials? Russian vaccines have been controversial in the past (remember Sputnik V?). Still, if it's safe and effective, it's a game-changer.
Good initiative by Russia, but why does it always take a PHEIC declaration for the world to act? Africa has been dealing with Ebola for years with minimal global support. I hope India's role as a global pharmacy means we can help produce or distribute this vaccine at cost. The Bundibugyo strain sounds scary—mortality rate is high, and no treatments exist. Let's hope this vaccine works!
Finally some good news in global health! 🇷🇺👏 I'm glad Russia stepped up because Big Pharma often neglects these niche diseases. But I'm concerned about the politics—Russia will likely use this as soft power in Africa. India should watch closely and maybe partner with Russia on vaccine diplomacy. Also, we need to educate our citizens about Ebola if travel advisories are issued for affected regions.
As an Indian, I'm happy to see any progress
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