LBCI

Experimental Ebola vaccine seems safe in first stage - US researchers

World News

27-11-2014 | 02:43

Share

Share

Experimental Ebola vaccine seems safe in first stage - US researchers

2^min

An experimental Ebola vaccine appears safe and triggered signs of immune protection in the first 20 volunteers to test it, US researchers reported on Wednesday.

The vaccine is designed to spur the immune system's production of anti-Ebola antibodies, and people developed them within four weeks of getting the shots at the National Institutes of Health.

Half of the test group received a higher-dose shot, and those people produced more antibodies, said the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Some people also developed a different set of virus-fighting immune cells, named T cells, the study found. That may be important in fending off Ebola, as prior research found that monkeys protected by the vaccine also had that combination response.

Stimulating both types of immune response is "a promising factor," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, whose employees led the work.

The researchers reported no serious side effects. But two people who received the higher-dose vaccine briefly spiked fevers - one above 103 degrees - which disappeared within a day.

Earlier this month, Fauci told Congress this first-stage testing was promising enough that the US planned much larger studies in West Africa, starting in Liberia in early January, to try to prove whether the vaccine really works.

"Maybe by the mid to the end of the summer of 2015, hopefully we'll get enough good data to be able to determine if the vaccine works or not," Fauci said.

Scientists are racing to develop ways to prevent or treat the virus that has killed more than 5,600 people in West Africa, most of them in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

A different Canadian-made vaccine also has begun small safety studies.

REUTERS

Subscribe to our VOD

SUBSCRIBE

Our visitors readings

Rubio: Israel has no territorial claims in Lebanon, US working to strengthen Lebanese Army capabilities

2026-04-28

Rubio: Israel has no territorial claims in Lebanon, US working to strengthen Lebanese Army capabilities

Nabatieh on edge as Lebanese army steps up presence amid fears of Israeli strikes

News Bulletin Reports

13:00

Nabatieh on edge as Lebanese army steps up presence amid fears of Israeli strikes

Madrid erupts in cheers: Spain beats Argentina 1-0, winning the World Cup

2026-07-19

Madrid erupts in cheers: Spain beats Argentina 1-0, winning the World Cup

Lebanese Ministers highlight port scanner rollout and customs modernization efforts

2026-04-30

Lebanese Ministers highlight port scanner rollout and customs modernization efforts

Videos

Lebanon-Israel talks: delegations arrive at US Embassy in Rome — Video

2026-08-06

Lebanon-Israel talks: delegations arrive at US Embassy in Rome — Video

Residents begin returning to Zawtar el-Gharbiyeh, southern Lebanon: Video

2026-07-24

Residents begin returning to Zawtar el-Gharbiyeh, southern Lebanon: Video

Slotkin to LBCI: Lebanese army needs resources to confront Hezbollah, $36 million request submitted for special forces

2026-07-20

Slotkin to LBCI: Lebanese army needs resources to confront Hezbollah, $36 million request submitted for special forces

Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington: trilateral framework agreement first step toward restoring sovereignty

2026-06-26

Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington: trilateral framework agreement first step toward restoring sovereignty

Rubio on Lebanon-Israel framework agreement: 'beginning of the beginning,' more work needed

2026-06-26

Rubio on Lebanon-Israel framework agreement: 'beginning of the beginning,' more work needed

Lebanon, Israel sign trilateral framework agreement after Washington talks attended by Rubio: Video

2026-06-26

Lebanon, Israel sign trilateral framework agreement after Washington talks attended by Rubio: Video

Israeli strikes renew on Choukine, Maifadoun, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon: Video

2026-06-20

Israeli strikes renew on Choukine, Maifadoun, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon: Video

Massive Israeli strikes hit South Lebanon under ceasefire conditions

2026-06-19

Massive Israeli strikes hit South Lebanon under ceasefire conditions

Trump criticizes Israel’s Lebanon campaign, says war has gone on ‘too long’ and floats Syria role in conflict

2026-06-16

Trump criticizes Israel’s Lebanon campaign, says war has gone on ‘too long’ and floats Syria role in conflict

Most read

24 hours

7 days

Month

Netanyahu on Syria visit says 'very close' to toppling Iran's Islamic Republic

1

Netanyahu on Syria visit says 'very close' to toppling Iran's Islamic Republic

Lebanese Army: Continued Israeli attacks threaten stability, hinder military efforts

2

Lebanese Army: Continued Israeli attacks threaten stability, hinder military efforts

Aoun chairs security meeting on situation in south Lebanon, stresses army role in Nabatieh

3

Aoun chairs security meeting on situation in south Lebanon, stresses army role in Nabatieh

From cash to cards: Lebanon's economy takes a digital turn

4

From cash to cards: Lebanon's economy takes a digital turn

Hezbollah: Only official statements and leadership speeches represent our positions

5

Hezbollah: Only official statements and leadership speeches represent our positions

Aoun, Salam discuss measures being taken by Lebanese army to strengthen its deployment

6

Aoun, Salam discuss measures being taken by Lebanese army to strengthen its deployment

From an October 7 warning to Lebanon tensions: Pressure mounts on Netanyahu

7

From an October 7 warning to Lebanon tensions: Pressure mounts on Netanyahu

Explosion heard in southern Iran near Hormuz: State media

8

Explosion heard in southern Iran near Hormuz: State media

Download now the LBCI mobile app

To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world

Google Play

App Store

Download now the LBCI mobile app

We use
cookies

We use cookies to make
your experience on this
website better.

Accept

Learn More