Warning over spread of diseases from animals to humans

VACCINE EXPERT

THE SCIENTIST leading Oxford University’s push for a coronavirus vaccine has warned of an increasing risk of disease outbreaks spreading from animals to people.

Professor Sarah Gilbert said human activity is driving the rising threat, adding the risk is unlikely to diminish in the future as globalisation continues.

“Greater population density, greater travel, deforestation – all of these things make it more likely that these outbreaks will happen and then something will spread,” she told The Independent.

“Because of the way things have been going in the world, it’s more likely we’ll have zoonotic infections causing outbreaks in the future.”

Most researchers believe Covid19 emerged in bats and infected humans via another animal, probably in a market in Wuhan, China.

Other deadly diseases such as Ebola, Sars and the West Nile Virus have also originated in animals.

The Oxford project is awaiting results of phase three trials of its vaccine and, if a high level of efficacy is proven, the team hopes it could be available be the end of the year.

Oxford’s pharmaceutical partner in the project, AstraZeneca, has committed to producing two billion doses by next summer.

The vaccine is being trialled in tens of thousands of volunteers in the UK, South Africa, Brazil and the US.

Other vaccines in development have entered into the same stage, and Professor Gilbert said there was a “very good chance” some would prove effective.

“We’ve seen good levels of neutralising antibodies, we’re seeing strong T cell responses from some of them. If this works, other vaccines will also work. We expect there to be multiple vaccines,” she told the paper.

Last week, new measures were announced to strengthen the UK’s ability to deliver a coronavirus vaccine if one becomes available.

They include expanding the trained workforce who can administer Covid- 19 and flu vaccines, and reinforced standards to support the Medicines and

Healthcare products Regulatory Agency ( MHRA) to grant temporary authorisation for the use of a new Covid- 19 vaccine.

They will also clarify any protection from civil liability for the additional workforce administering vaccinations.

If a vaccine is discovered before 2021, the proposals will bolster existing powers that allow the MHRA to consider approving its use, before a full product licence is granted.