1. 14 NEWS SPECIAL INVESTIGATION thesundaymail.com.au
thesundaymail.com.au
Cut red
tape for
vaccine
Scientists’ Hendra hope
Kelmeny Fraser
HENDRA virus researchers have held
urgent talks with the nation’s drug
regulators to call for a fast-tracked
vaccine on the back of the worst
outbreak on record.
It comes as scientists engineering
the vaccine reveal they have planned
for adapting the drug should the
worst-case scenario of the virus pass-
ing directly from bat to human, or even Worst-case scenario: Dr Linfa Wang
human to human, eventuate. is working on a Hendra vaccine.
‘‘As a scientist I cannot say that will
never happen,’’ said Dr Linfa Wang,
team leader at the top security Aust- bats to pigs, but AAHL director
ralian Animal Health Laboratory in Martyn Jeggo said there was no
Geelong, Victoria, where the research evidence the virus had switched hosts
is taking place. in Australia.
‘‘If a new virus emerges this will Prof Jeggo said while ferrets and On guard: CSIRO scientists
work,’’ he said. cats had been infected with Hendra in study samples for the
‘‘The same vaccine formulation with laboratory trials, scientists had de- presence of Hendra.
minimum adaptation can be used in tected no effect on dogs living close to
Pictures: Jamie Hanson
other animals and humans.’’ infected horses.
Scientists at the Geelong laboratory ‘‘So far the virus has not evolved and
are confident the Hendra virus has not there is no evidence it has changed in
Brave bat pack puts life on the line
mutated into a more virulent strain. any real way,’’ he said.
They believe the latest outbreak is AAHL officials met with drug regu-
linked to environmental factors, rang- lators the Australian Pesticides and
ing from an increase in flying fox Veterinary Medicine Authority last
numbers to disruptions to bat colonies last week to open a ‘‘strong dialogue’’ DEEP in Australia’s most secure than 60 people to the deadly virus.
as a result of flooding. for an equine Hendra vaccine to be research laboratory, a scientist in a For those inside the nation’s most
But the similarity of Hendra to fast tracked. Without speeding up the protective oxygen suit clasps a vial microbiologically secure facility, it
another virus – the Nipah virus in approval process it would not be holding one of the world’s deadliest was just another day in the quest to
Bangladesh – has prompted scientists available until 2013. viruses. solve the Hendra puzzle, 17 years
to factor a worst-case scenario into the Animal trials have shown the vac- It contains just 20ml of liquid, but after its Queensland discovery.
development of the vaccine. cine works and is the best chance of each drop contains millions of live But the stringent safety pro-
The Nipah virus can pass directly short-circuiting the Hendra cycle. Hendra virus particles – in theory Kelmeny Fraser cedures ensure those working up
from bats to humans. So far Hendra A spokeswoman for the APVMA enough to kill every man, woman close with the microscopic killer
has only been contracted by humans said it was yet to receive a formal and child in Queensland, or an CSIRO’s $1 billion Australian Ani- never drop their guard.
from horses infected by bats. application for a Hendra vaccine. estimated four million horses, ac- mal Health Laboratory in Geelong, ‘‘Hendra is one of the most lethal
In the worst outbreak of Nipah in An interstate government taskforce cording to calculations by the facil- Victoria, as researchers worked on viruses we have ever known . . . for
Asia, triggered by forest fires disrupt- is still to decide whether to make the ity’s team leader, Dr Linfa Wang. countering the latest Hendra out- humans or for animals,’’ Dr Wang
ing bat colonies, about 100 people died. vaccination of horses mandatory once Last week The Sunday Mail was break, which has killed 13 horses said. ‘‘But if you can say anything
The Nipah virus can also pass from the drug is ready for market. given exclusive access to the across two states and exposed more good about this virus, it is not very
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Page 14 JULY 24 2011