August 8, 2016.
The Zika virus is at the heart of medical research. An experimental vaccine has entered the clinical phase in Florida, where researchers are hoping for encouraging results within two years.
80 volunteers to participate in a clinical study
An investigational vaccine against the Zika virus is currently being tested in the United States. The American Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) said in a statement that 80 people had volunteered to test this exploratory product, which scientists hope will trigger an immune response in the body of participants against this disease transmitted by mosquito bites.
The tests will take place at three sites in Miami, the main city of Florida where, a few days ago, four people have, for the first time, have been locally contaminated with this virus, a sign of the geographical progression of the disease.
65 contaminated countries around the world
The first dose of this vaccine was given to volunteers on August 2 and the first results of this phase 1 of the clinical trial should be known by the end of the year. Phase 2 is expected to start during the first weeks of 2017. Participants will then be invited to undergo various blood tests over the next two years, for scientists to verify the durability of their body’s immune response.
Canada, also affected by this epidemic, is also conducting a clinical trial on a vaccine that was administered for the first time a month ago. According to the latest data published by the World Health Organization (WHO), 65 countries and territories are now affected by this virus, including 62 since the start of 2015.
Read also: What are the symptoms of the Zika virus?
