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by Staff Writers Halle, Germany (SPX) Oct 16, 2014
The Ebola virus is spreading rapidly and to an unexpected extent. The outbreak does not follow the patterns experienced in the past and the virus shows a new disease dynamic in regions, where it has never been recorded before. For this reason, the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, acatech - the German Academy of Science and Engineering, and the Union of the German Academies of Sciences and Humanities have presented a statement on the Ebola epidemic today. In the statement the academies call for the following consequences to be taken: To combat the Ebola epidemic vaccines and antivirals are urgently needed. To meet this need, the further development of experimental vaccines and medicines for clinical application needs to be accelerated. Even if the pathogen should temporarily disappear again, research must continue as a precautionary measure because another outbreak is highly probable. Such precautionary measures must also include ensuring that sufficient quantities of available vaccines and antivirals are stockpiled in case of a new outbreak. Increasing medical and social science research in this area is also vitally important for future preparedness.
Background 1. The Ebola outbreak in West Africa constitutes an 'extraordinary event' and a public health risk to other States; 2. The possible consequences of further international spread are particularly serious in view of the virulence of the virus, the intensive community and health facility transmission patterns, and the weak health systems in the currently affected and most at-risk countries. 3. A coordinated international response is deemed essential to stop and reverse the international spread of Ebola. The United Nations Security Council agreed with this assessment in its declaration of 18 September 2014 which stated that the epidemic constitutes a threat to international peace and security.
The current Ebola outbreak fter the first cases were recorded in early 2014 in South-West Guinea, the disease has spread rapidly. Alongside Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, with its million-plus capital Monrovia, have been hit especially hard. The spread of the virus has been accelerated by multiple factors including disastrous hygiene conditions, the collapse of the medical infrastructure and a lack of public awareness. Over 8000 cases were registered by 5 October 2014. About half of the people infected have died. The death toll includes many doctors and nursing staff and an end to the outbreak is not in sight. From the beginning, the local healthcare systems have been supported by international aid organisations: Doctors Without Borders and the European Mobile Laboratory Project were the first to come to the region in March 2014. From very early on, these organisations have repeatedly said that the outbreak will not be contained without a massive increase in medical and epidemiological aid.
The Ebola virus and its progression This research furthermore delivered important approaches to control and fight the virus, such as the procedures to identify the virus which are being applied by the European Mobile Laboratory in the current outbreak. In addition, one of the two vaccines to be tested in the clinic is based on research originally carried out in Germany. Ebola viruses are transmitted from animals to humans. Fruit bats are presumed to be the natural reservoir of the virus. The Zaire species of Ebola virus, responsible for the current outbreak in West Africa, causes a particularly severe form of haemorrhagic fever. The disease progresses primarily with massive virus proliferation and immune dysfunction. The main symptoms are fever, diarrhoea, vomiting and impaired coagulation, leading to multiple organ failure and shock. Initial examinations of the genetic material have shown that the virus is different to past strains with numerous genetic changes (mutations), but the significance of this is not known.
Experimental medicines and vaccines Under pressure of current events, the vaccines and therapeutics that have shown good results in animal experiments are now being tested in initial clinical studies. The process of moving from the experimental phase to clinical application will certainly be cost-intensive and time-consuming. The thought that numerous lives could have been saved, had this process been started earlier, is depressing.
Consequences
Strengthen international collaboration and capacities (II) The personnel and institutional capacities of the healthcare systems in less developed countries must be further established and sustainably improved, adjusted to the respective cultural context. In addition, in industrialised countries, we need to critically assess whether current capacities are adequate and fit for future demands. Public awareness of the course of infections must be increased in the countries particularly affected by the Ebola virus epidemic and the cultural context should not be underestimated. Governments and other decision-makers must also be made more aware of the dimensions of the problem. Therefore, application of findings from social and cultural science studies and approaches that go beyond the purely medical measures are also of great importance.
Expand medical and social science research (IV) Research in social and cultural sciences is of increasing importance for future preparedness. In addition, approaches to treatment of patients with highly pathogenic viruses should be incorporated to a greater extent into the training of medical professionals.
Rapidly apply existing developments for vaccines and drugs (VI) The discovery and development of vaccines and drugs cannot solely be subject to market economy principles. The international community, foundations and non-government organisations need to take action. In this context it is vital to ensure that in case of another outbreak, adequate supplies of effective vaccines or antivirals are provided once they are available.
Related Links Leopoldina Epidemics on Earth - Bird Flu, HIV/AIDS, Ebola
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