Scientific African
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Publication Date
2021Author
Collins Kipkorir Kebenei, Patrick Okoth
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Show full item recordAbstract/ Overview
Ebola virus is a neglected tropical disease widely accepted as one of the most fatal diseases
of human and nonhuman primates ever encountered in recent years. For a long time, de velopment of vaccines and anti-Ebola drugs has been slow. However, with recent devastat ing outbreaks in West Africa and Democratic Republic of Congo, the development of rapid
diagnostic methods, vaccines, and antiviral drugs are at different stages of clinical trials.
Despite the progress made in fighting the Ebola virus epidemic, the approaches still face
various obstacles. Such obstacles highlight the desire to search for effective diagnostic and
therapeutic interventions. Furthermore, Ebola virus is associated with adverse indirect ef fects since resources are diverted from programs aimed at controlling important diseases
such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV infection. We hypothesize that a significant bur den of Ebola viral disease if undetected may lead to missed opportunities for prevention
and heighten the risk for large-scale outbreaks and pandemics. Further, Ebola is associated
with high fatality rate and significant socio-economic impact. Therefore, the need for a
rapid diagnostic technique to be used at the point of care, universal Polyvalent-Ebolavirus
vaccine, and effective anti-Ebola drug cannot be overemphasized. Thus, this review focuses
on the availability, suitability, and significance of current advances in diagnostics, vaccines,
and therapeutic options for the Ebola disease and the need to develop novel vaccines and
antiviral therapies that are effective against all known Ebola virus species.
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- Department of Zoology [160]