Researchers doing trials of a vaccine against the deadly Hendra virus have run into problems during lab testing of the vaccine. The scientists have already shown that their vaccine gives horses immunity to Hendra virus for six months, but they were hoping to prove that the vaccine could protect horses for a year.
Disappointing results of Hendra virus vaccine test
Scientists have shown that vaccine gives horses immunity to Hendra virus for six months, but they were hoping to prove the vaccine could protect horses for a year.
The lab problem has thrown their latest test results into question and put the program back months.
The Hendra virus is deadly, and, while rare, it kills swiftly by affecting blood vessels and organs. All animals that come in contact with it die, and it has killed about half of the humans who've caught it.
Two years ago it was announced that a vaccine to protect horses has been successfully developed, and the immunization program started to be rolled out.
The CSIRO's Dr Deborah Middleton is one of the vaccine's key developers. As a registered specialist in veterinary pathology, she leads projects within the Transforming Animal Biosecurity research area at CSIRO’s Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
The overall goal of her research area is to develop and apply advanced technologies to provide solutions to livestock disease problems minimize the risks associated with new and emerging pathogens, particularly animal and zoonotic diseases (those that can pass from animals to people).
Dr. Middleton says she was hoping to prove that the vaccine would work for a year, instead of the currently guaranteed six months. "Like all experimental studies you have to have experimental controls and if the controls don't behave in the way that you expect them to, you know you need to terminate the study and you need to repeat the work."
Dr Deborah Middleton says the tests will start again early next year.
Right now, Dr. Middleton reports that the have every indication that vaccinated horses will be protected from field infection for at least six months.
The horse industry was hoping to have a longer time between vaccines, as it currently costs about $100 per horse to administer.