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| 'Once-only dose' rabies jab hope | 'Once-only dose' rabies jab hope |
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| Scientists say they have made a safe and effective rabies vaccine that requires only one dose and has the potential to eradicate the disease. | Scientists say they have made a safe and effective rabies vaccine that requires only one dose and has the potential to eradicate the disease. |
| Rabies kills around 55,000 people every year and although there are effective treatments for the disease, prevention is seen as the most desirable option. | Rabies kills around 55,000 people every year and although there are effective treatments for the disease, prevention is seen as the most desirable option. |
| Attempts to eradicate rabies in dogs have been hampered by the expense and inefficiency of current vaccines. | Attempts to eradicate rabies in dogs have been hampered by the expense and inefficiency of current vaccines. |
| Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports on the latest trial. | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports on the latest trial. |
| Rabies is caused by a virus which attacks the nervous system. | Rabies is caused by a virus which attacks the nervous system. |
| We welcome any means of reducing the impact of rabies and believe this new vaccine will be a step forward to eradicate this deadly disease A Food Standards Agency spokesman | |
| Once symptoms appear it is almost always fatal, but people who contract rabies can be treated with a protracted course of antibodies and vaccinations to fight the virus after being bitten. | Once symptoms appear it is almost always fatal, but people who contract rabies can be treated with a protracted course of antibodies and vaccinations to fight the virus after being bitten. |
| Eradication programmes are ongoing in parts of the world where the disease is prevalent in animals, mainly dogs, including Africa, Asia and parts of America. | Eradication programmes are ongoing in parts of the world where the disease is prevalent in animals, mainly dogs, including Africa, Asia and parts of America. |
| But these efforts are blighted because effective and inexpensive vaccines are unavailable, say US experts from the Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. | But these efforts are blighted because effective and inexpensive vaccines are unavailable, say US experts from the Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. |
| Single dose | Single dose |
| What is needed, say Milosz Faber and his team, is a potent vaccine that will offer lifelong protection in just one simple dose. | What is needed, say Milosz Faber and his team, is a potent vaccine that will offer lifelong protection in just one simple dose. |
| To this end, they have developed a live-attenuated vaccine which contains a weakened form of the rabies virus. | To this end, they have developed a live-attenuated vaccine which contains a weakened form of the rabies virus. |
| In tests on mice, a single dose of the vaccine appeared to offer complete protection against a highly virulent strain of canine rabies. | In tests on mice, a single dose of the vaccine appeared to offer complete protection against a highly virulent strain of canine rabies. |
| It also cleared an established rabies infection from the brains of mice, suggesting it could be useful as a treatment in people who already have rabies. | It also cleared an established rabies infection from the brains of mice, suggesting it could be useful as a treatment in people who already have rabies. |
| The researchers said their vaccine could make global eradication of canine rabies feasible. | The researchers said their vaccine could make global eradication of canine rabies feasible. |
| They told PNAS: "Inappropriate dog vaccination programmes, limited access to vaccination and post-exposure treatment of individuals who have been exposed to rabid dogs are major problems in developing countries. | They told PNAS: "Inappropriate dog vaccination programmes, limited access to vaccination and post-exposure treatment of individuals who have been exposed to rabid dogs are major problems in developing countries. |
| "A live-attenuated rabies virus vaccine is likely to provide effective immunisation with a single dose, which has practical, cost and logistical advantages over conventional multidose vaccines with respect to the worldwide eradication of dog rabies." | "A live-attenuated rabies virus vaccine is likely to provide effective immunisation with a single dose, which has practical, cost and logistical advantages over conventional multidose vaccines with respect to the worldwide eradication of dog rabies." |
| A spokeswoman for the Food Standards Agency said: "Rabies is an enormous public health problem, particularly in developing countries, and potentially in developed countries. | A spokeswoman for the Food Standards Agency said: "Rabies is an enormous public health problem, particularly in developing countries, and potentially in developed countries. |
| "The UK has officially rabies free status since 1922 and the EU's Pet Travel Scheme has helped keep this status. | "The UK has officially rabies free status since 1922 and the EU's Pet Travel Scheme has helped keep this status. |
| "However, rabies transmission by wild animals (e.g. bats and foxes) always pose a threat to the UK population. | "However, rabies transmission by wild animals (e.g. bats and foxes) always pose a threat to the UK population. |
| "We welcome any means of reducing the impact of rabies and believe this new vaccine will be a step forward to eradicate this deadly disease." | "We welcome any means of reducing the impact of rabies and believe this new vaccine will be a step forward to eradicate this deadly disease." |