Vaccine development

Abstract

Vaccines against filoviruses would be useful for laboratory researchers to prevent accidental infections (pre-exposure prophylaxis) or to prevent disease after an accident occurred (post-exposure prophylaxis); for first responders and primary caregivers in AFHF-outbreak areas for their own protection from filovirus transmission from infected people and wild animals; for humans in filovirus-endemic areas to prevent outbreaks and epidemics; and for animals (chimpanzees, gorillas, and duikers) whose populations are seriously impacted by filovirus infections. It is debated for which particular scenarios vaccines should be developed. The disagreement regarding the potential use of filovirus vaccines is because filoviruses are rarely introduced into human populations; because the locations of outbreaks are in often poor and rural areas lacking hospital and physician networks or even basic supplies; because there is only limited transmission of filoviruses when barriernursing techniques are applied; and, in regard to animals, because there are technical and ethical difficulties in administering an allegedly safe vaccine into individuals of endangered species, including chimpanzees and gorillas.