Oral Drug 100% Effective Against Ebola Virus - Jordan News
Oral Drug 100% Effective Against Ebola Virus Scientists have discovered that an oral antiviral drug successfully prevented the death of monkeys infected with the Ebola virus, a breakthrough that could help prevent future outbreaks of this deadly virus. اضافة اعلان Ebola virus is highly lethal to humans and primates, with mortality rates reaching about 90% of those infected. For example, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa between 2013 and 2016 resulted in 11,325 deaths out of 28,600 infected, while another outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda between 2018 and 2020 caused 2,299 deaths out of 3,481 cases. While antibody-based treatments have shown some success in animal and human trials, challenges such as storage and transport requirements, particularly the need for refrigeration, pose significant obstacles to limiting outbreaks, according to scientists. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop oral tablet treatments that can be distributed quickly and widely to save lives and curb the spread of the virus in resource-limited areas. Scientists explained: "Oral antiviral drugs offer several advantages over injectable treatments, including ease of supply, storage, distribution, and administration." Previously, it was discovered that the drug Obildesivir (ODV) has broad activity against several RNA viruses, including the filovirus family to which Ebola belongs, when administered within 24 hours of exposure to the virus. However, in earlier research, scientists used an intramuscular injection method to introduce the virus to macaques, leading to rapid disease progression, making it difficult to track the drug's effectiveness. In the recent study, published in Science Advances, scientists found that Obildesivir provided 100% protection for rhesus monkeys exposed to the highly virulent Macuna strain of Ebola when administered through mucosal membranes. Five rhesus monkeys and five crab-eating macaques were given a daily dose of Obildesivir for 10 days starting 24 hours after exposure to the virus, while three monkeys served as a control group. The scientists found that Obildesivir provided 100% protection against death for the rhesus monkeys and 80% for the macaques. Since the disease progressed more slowly with the new method of virus administration, the team was also able to explore the drug's mechanisms of action. They found that the treated monkeys showed higher expression of proteins supporting T-cell activation, which are part of the immune system. Additionally, the treated monkeys showed better anti-inflammatory effects and reduced severe immune reactions. Overall, the scientists believe these results support the potential of Obildesivir as a post-exposure preventive treatment for Ebola when taken orally. They wrote: "These results suggest that Obildesivir treatment offers an opportunity to develop adaptive immunity while reducing excessive inflammation, which may prevent lethal outcomes."
The scientists hope to gain a better understanding of how late-stage treatment with Obildesivir affects immune responses.
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Jordan News
18-03-2025
- Jordan News
Oral Drug 100% Effective Against Ebola Virus - Jordan News
Oral Drug 100% Effective Against Ebola Virus Scientists have discovered that an oral antiviral drug successfully prevented the death of monkeys infected with the Ebola virus, a breakthrough that could help prevent future outbreaks of this deadly virus. اضافة اعلان Ebola virus is highly lethal to humans and primates, with mortality rates reaching about 90% of those infected. For example, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa between 2013 and 2016 resulted in 11,325 deaths out of 28,600 infected, while another outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda between 2018 and 2020 caused 2,299 deaths out of 3,481 cases. While antibody-based treatments have shown some success in animal and human trials, challenges such as storage and transport requirements, particularly the need for refrigeration, pose significant obstacles to limiting outbreaks, according to scientists. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop oral tablet treatments that can be distributed quickly and widely to save lives and curb the spread of the virus in resource-limited areas. Scientists explained: "Oral antiviral drugs offer several advantages over injectable treatments, including ease of supply, storage, distribution, and administration." Previously, it was discovered that the drug Obildesivir (ODV) has broad activity against several RNA viruses, including the filovirus family to which Ebola belongs, when administered within 24 hours of exposure to the virus. However, in earlier research, scientists used an intramuscular injection method to introduce the virus to macaques, leading to rapid disease progression, making it difficult to track the drug's effectiveness. In the recent study, published in Science Advances, scientists found that Obildesivir provided 100% protection for rhesus monkeys exposed to the highly virulent Macuna strain of Ebola when administered through mucosal membranes. Five rhesus monkeys and five crab-eating macaques were given a daily dose of Obildesivir for 10 days starting 24 hours after exposure to the virus, while three monkeys served as a control group. The scientists found that Obildesivir provided 100% protection against death for the rhesus monkeys and 80% for the macaques. Since the disease progressed more slowly with the new method of virus administration, the team was also able to explore the drug's mechanisms of action. They found that the treated monkeys showed higher expression of proteins supporting T-cell activation, which are part of the immune system. Additionally, the treated monkeys showed better anti-inflammatory effects and reduced severe immune reactions. Overall, the scientists believe these results support the potential of Obildesivir as a post-exposure preventive treatment for Ebola when taken orally. They wrote: "These results suggest that Obildesivir treatment offers an opportunity to develop adaptive immunity while reducing excessive inflammation, which may prevent lethal outcomes." The scientists hope to gain a better understanding of how late-stage treatment with Obildesivir affects immune responses.
Ammon
02-03-2025
- Ammon
Uganda reports second Ebola death, WHO says
Ammon News - A second Ebola patient, a four-year-old child, has died in Uganda, the World Health Organization said, citing the country's health ministry. The fatality brings the number of confirmed cases in Uganda to 10. The East African country declared an outbreak of the highly infectious and often fatal haemorrhagic disease in January after the death of a male nurse at the Mulago National Referral Hospital in the capital Kampala. The WHO's Uganda office posted late on Saturday on X that the ministry had reported "an additional positive case in Mulago hospital of a four-and-a-half-year-old child, who tragically passed away" on Tuesday. Mulago is the country's sole national referral hospital for Ebola cases. The ministry said on February 18 that all eight Ebola patients under care had been discharged but that at least 265 contacts remained under strict quarantine in Kampala and two other cities. Ebola symptoms include fever, headache and muscle pains. The virus is transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids and tissue. Reuters
Ammon
11-02-2025
- Ammon
The world cannot afford America's health aid cuts. What comes next?
The global health decisions of the new US administration sent shockwaves worldwide, first with the withdrawal from the World Health Organisation (WHO), followed by the closure of USAID, and culminating in the freezing of US aid to countries. The abrupt cessation of developmental and humanitarian assistance threatens the very programmes that many nations rely on to sustain their health systems and deliver critical relief. This challenge becomes even more pressing amid the continued spread of infectious diseases and recurrent global health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Ebola outbreaks, which have reinforced the necessity of international collaboration in mounting effective responses and preserving global health security. The suspension of US aid not only places vulnerable populations at heightened risk but also disrupts the broader mechanisms of global health and humanitarian support, with consequences that extend far beyond national borders. Many developing nations depend heavily on US aid to sustain their health programmes. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the US has allocated approximately $278.1 billion in health sector support to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) since 2000. While this aid accounted for a mere 0.3% of total U.S. government spending in 2023, it represented a staggering 29.1% of all health-related development assistance from donor nations. Since 2020, these funds have been directed toward key global health priorities, including combating HIV/AIDS (47.8%), improving maternal and reproductive health (11.5%), advancing neonatal and child health (8.4%), and addressing malaria (5.9%) and tuberculosis. Studies indicate that U.S. investments have played a significant role in advancing disease control efforts and saving millions of lives in LMICs. The abrupt cessation of this aid will leave these nations more vulnerable to disease outbreaks, weakening governments' capacities to respond to health crises. Historically, we know that diseases transcend borders, meaning the repercussions of this funding gap will not be confined to affected nations but will inevitably ripple outward, impacting other countries, including the US itself, and jeopardising global health security. Let us also be reminded that US aid has extended beyond direct medical interventions to include strengthening health systems through research, workforce training and infrastructure development. Without this support, these systems will falter, leading to a decline in healthcare quality and impeding progress toward universal health coverage. The most vulnerable communities, including refugees and other displaced populations, will bear the brunt of this deterioration, further exacerbating humanitarian crises in conflict zones and fragile settings. US support for global health has not always been purely altruistic; it has also been driven by strategic considerations tied to national interests and health security. Containing disease outbreaks in developing nations serves as the first line of defense in preventing their spread to the rest of the world, including the United States. Economic factors also play a role, as highlighted in reports from the US Department of Commerce, which have indicated that global health investments contribute to economic stability worldwide, benefiting the US economy in return. By halting this support, the US will not only disrupt critical health initiatives funded through USAID and various non-governmental organisations, but also trigger widespread layoffs of healthcare professionals and programme staff, fuelling unemployment and deepening economic distress in aid-dependent nations. The ripple effects of such a decision will extend beyond health, potentially destabilising entire regions. Given these significant health, social and economic challenges, developing nations must act swiftly to diversify their health financing sources and expand cooperation with alternative global powers such as the European Union, China and other regional and international entities. They must also advance sustainable economic policies that reduce dependency on foreign aid. However, in practical terms, this is easier said than done. If self-sufficiency in health financing were a simple solution, many countries would have already achieved it. The reality is that only a handful of nations have successfully implemented such measures in a sustainable manner. That said, there are notable success stories to learn from, particularly cases where regional cooperation among nations with shared historical, geographical and cultural ties has led to the establishment of specialised health bodies. These collaborative frameworks have accelerated joint responses to health crises, fostered resource-sharing, and reduced excessive reliance on external aid. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) serve as prime examples of how regional institutions can enhance health programs and bolster crisis preparedness and response through coordinated action. Developing nations now face a monumental health, humanitarian and economic challenge, one that will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences for global health security. It is imperative to recognise the gravity of this threat and to act decisively in finding alternative solutions. Strengthening international partnerships, mobilizing collective efforts, and upholding international legal frameworks, such as the International Health Regulations, must be prioritized. The health sector in developing countries should be regarded not merely as a service-oriented sector but as a strategic investment requiring sustained attention.
