Jab could give lifelong protection against virus that inspired ‘Contagion’ film, scientists say
Jab could give lifelong protection against virus that inspired ‘Contagion’ film, scientists say
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A new study of Nipah virus survivors has raised hopes that a measles-style vaccine is within reach. Copy link. twitter. facebook. whatsapp. Scientists may be able to develop a vaccine which offers lifelong protection against Nipah virus, one of the world’s deadliest known pathogens, new research suggests.
Since the virus – which inspired the Hollywood film Contagion – first burst onto the stage in Malaysia in 1998, at least 754 people have been infected and 435 have died, giving an average case fatality rate of almost 60 per cent. Yet there are currently no vaccines or drugs to target the disease, which is deemed a “priority pathogen” by the World Health Organization.
“This is a big concern,” said Dr Valentina Bernasconi, head of Laboratory Sciences at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi), which funds Nipah research. “The problem with Nipah is that it’s very, very deadly – the case fatality in each outbreak varies from 40 per cent to 75 per cent, so it is really scary.
“The problem also is that Nipah has an animal reservoir of fruit bats,” she added. “There have been confirmed outbreaks in Singapore, Bangladesh, India, Malaysia and the Philippines – but these bats are found in an even larger geographical area, covering southeast Asia and beyond, where there’s a population of more than two billion people.”.
