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UK ebola vaccine trials begin
vaccine
The ebola outbreak in West Africa has caused more than 1,200 deaths.
Human trials fast-tracked due to West Africa epidemic

Trials of an experimental ebola vaccine are to begin in the UK. Human trials have been fast-tracked due to the current ebola outbreak in West Africa that has killed more than 1,200 people.

A group of 60 volunteers will be injected with the vaccine, which has been developed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and the US National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The trial is being led by the Jenner Institute in Oxford. It aims to determine whether the vaccine causes unforeseen side effects and gives a good immune response to the ebola virus.

Professor Hill, director of the Jenner Institute, said: "The tragic events unfolding in Africa demand an urgent response. In recent years, similar investigational vaccines have safely immunised infants and adults against a range of diseases including malaria, HIV and hepatitis C.

"We, and all our partners on this project, are optimistic that this candidate vaccine may prove useful against ebola."

If the trials are successful, 10,000 doses will be manufactured and made available for an emergency immunisation programme in high risk areas.

Pre-clinical research involving non-human primates suggests the vaccine offers promising protection and no significant side effects.

The vaccine is against the Zaire species of ebola which is circulating West Africa. It uses a single benign ebola virus protein, meaning it cannot cause a person injected with the vaccine to become infected with ebola as it does not contain infectious virus material.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.