<
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/may/25/a-gamechanger-new-meningitis-vaccine-hailed-as-major-step>
"An effective, affordable meningitis vaccine has been successfully tested in
Africa, raising hopes for the elimination of a disease that kills 250,000
people a year.
The NmCV-5 vaccine, developed by the Serum Institute of India and global health
organisation Path, will protect against the five main meningococcal strains
found in Africa, including the emerging X strain, for which there is currently
no licensed injection.
Vaccine trials were conducted among 1,800 people aged from two to 29 in Mali
and the Gambia in 2021, according to a report published on Wednesday in the
New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers found that NmCV-5 generated a
strong immune response against all five strains.
Meningitis is caused by bacteria or viral infections that inflame the membranes
surrounding the brain and spinal cord. At least 60% of deaths occur in Africa,
particularly along the “meningitis belt”, which stretches from the Gambia and
Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east.
According to research, people in Africa are twice as likely to suffer serious
long-term complications from the disease than people in high-income countries,
due, among other factors, to late diagnosis and treatment.
The cost of available vaccines, which protect against four strains of
meningitis, are currently too high for most African countries, which need tens
of millions of doses. The MenAfriVac, rolled out in 2010, substantially reduced
cases of meningococcal A, but large-scale epidemics linked to the other strains
are common in Africa.
NmCV-5 will be available in the coming months."
Via
Future Crunch:
<
https://futurecrunch.com/goodnews-stunting-ocean-australia-wind-solar-europe/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
