Vaccine fast-tracked for virus that kills up to 85% of people it infects
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Vaccine for deadly virus with ‘pandemic potential’ gets funding boost
- A vaccine for the deadly Nipah virus, developed by the University of Oxford, may soon be available to patients.
- The vaccine has been granted support from the European Medicines Agency's Prime scheme to fast-track treatment delivery.
- The World Health Organisation considers Nipah a research priority due to its pandemic potential and high fatality rate (up to 85%).
- Nipah can transmit to humans via animals, contaminated foods, or directly from person to person, causing symptoms like fever and potentially fatal brain swelling.
- The University of Oxford is currently conducting phase 1 testing of its Nipah jab after promising early results, with the EMA noting the increasing risk of Nipah virus transmission due to human encounters with fruit bats.