Author: Brandyn West

VIC Selected as Classy Awards Finalist

The Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Immunotherapeutic Consortium, or VIC, has been named a Classy Awards Finalist—one of the 100 most innovative nonprofits and social enterprises of 2016! Classy Awards Finalists are a prestigious group of nonprofits and social enterprises selected for their excellence in social innovation and ability to solve a social problem. This year, the … Continued

VHFIC scientists identify novel antibodies against Marburgviruses

A new study led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) identifies new antibodies that protect against deadly Marburg virus, which along with Ebola virus are two of the multiple filoviruses that cause deadly disease in humans. The research, published in the journal PloS Pathogens, provides components needed to develop treatments for future outbreaks. … Continued

Ebola Outbreak: 21,296 cases and 8,429 deaths reported worldwide

The first reported case in the Ebola outbreak ravaging west Africa dates back to December 2013, in Guéckédou, a forested area of Guinea near the border with Liberia and Sierra Leone. Travellers took it across the border: by late March, Liberia had reported eight suspected cases and Sierra Leone six. By the end of June … Continued

WHO publishes series of 14 papers looking at West Africa Ebola outbreak

One year after the first Ebola cases started to surface in Guinea, WHO is publishing this series of 14 papers that take an in-depth look at West Africa’s first epidemic of Ebola virus disease. This assessment looks at how West Africa’s epidemic of Ebola virus disease has evolved over the past year, giving special attention … Continued

Ebola outbreak spreads to Mali

In Mali, there have been 4 reported cases, including 3 reported deaths. The WHO situation report of 12 November reported 4 cases (2 confirmed and 2 probable) and 4 deaths in Mali. One probable case and death has been reclassified and is now excluded from the Mali case count.   http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/2014-west-africa/index.html  

Synthetic Antibodies Protect Mice From Sudan Ebolavirus

Antibody-based therapeutics hold promise for treating the often deadly hemorrhagic fever caused by Ebola virus. During the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which has killed more than 1,500 people to date, several infected people have been treated with an experimental antibody-cocktail treatment called ZMapp. These antibodies are designed to neutralize Zaire ebolavirus, the cause … Continued

San Diego company opens up about experimental Ebola drug

As an early-stage experimental drug, very little ZMapp existed before the outbreak. Questions remain about how much is left. Earlier this month, Mapp issued a statement saying supplies had run out. Yet this week news broke about ZMapp being used to treat another patient, this time a British nurse. www.kpbs.org/news/2014/aug/27/san-diego-company-breaks-silence-experimental-ebol/  

Gene studies of Ebola in Sierra Leone show virus mutating

CHICAGO, Aug 28 (Reuters) – Genetic studies of some of the earliest Ebola cases in Sierra Leone reveal more than 300 genetic changes in the virus as it leapt from person to person, changes that could blunt the effectiveness of diagnostic tests and experimental treatments now in development, researchers said on Thursday. http://www.trust.org/item/20140828184512-v4mmv

Ebola Outbreak in West Africa spreads

The 2014 Ebola outbreak is one of the largest Ebola outbreaks in history and the first in West Africa. It is affecting four countries in West Africa: Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, but does not pose a significant risk to the U.S. public. CDC is working with other U.S. government agencies, the World Health … Continued