JOHNSON & JOHNSON LAUNCHING NEW EBOLA VACCINE IN AFRICA: NOVEMBER 2019

Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson ( NYSE: JNJ ) will launch an Ebola virus vaccine in the Democratic Republic of Congo ( DRC ) during November. An Ebola outbreak considered to be the second largest outbreak to date has been underway in the nation’s eastern provinces since 2018. Johnson & Johnson developed their Ebola agent in partnership with Bavarian Nordic ( OTCMKTS: BVNRY ).

Merck Ebola vaccine in DRC now

Merck ( NYSE: MRK ) already has their Ebola vaccine ( rVSV-ZEBOV ) deployed in the country; more than 200,000 doses of it have been administered. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires two injections eight weeks apart; the Merck product requires only a single administration of their product. Despite requiring an additional injection, the Johnson & Johnson Ebola immunization is still an essential addition to combat Ebola not only to sustain ongoing immunization initiatives in the DRC and other areas of Africa but also to have available in the event Merck’s product were to be in short supply.

Present Ebola outbreak

Since it first started in August 2018, the Ebola outbreak underway has killed more than 2,100 people.  

Why and how Ebola is such an enormous health threat

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a rare, lethal disease in people and nonhuman primates. The viruses triggering EVD are located mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. People can get EVD through direct contact with an infected animal (bat or nonhuman primate) or person; including corpses of EVD fatalities.

Ebola virus disrupts how blood clots. It is known as a hemorrhagic fever virus as the clotting issues it triggers lead to internal bleeding; blood leaks from small blood vessels in the body. The virus also causes severe inflammation and tissue damage. Due to being highly contagious and potent, Ebola is a significant challenge not only for patients but for caregivers and healthcare providers who not only help the sick but must take assertive, thorough action to protect themselves.

Ebola's Introduction To Medical Researchers

The Ebola virus was discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in DRC. Over the last 4 decades, there have been numerous Ebola outbreaks. The worst to date has been the West African Ebola epidemic, which generated nearly 30,000 EVD cases and more than 11,000 fatalities in 2014-2016. 

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