http://www.ksdk.com/news/health_arti...?storyid=78734
West Nile Vaccine Being Tested
created: 4/28/2005 12:15:32 PM
updated: 4/28/2005 12:17:44 PM
It's that time of year again. Spring rain brings small pools of water, the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes that can spread West Nile virus.
A San Diego company is testing a West Nile vaccine in humans with hopes of making the virus a thing of the past.
Vical is the maker of the vaccine. It is now being tested in 15 healthy people by the National Institutes of Health.
Infected mosquitoes have spread the West Nile virus to people throughout the U.S. over the past several years, resulting in thousands of illnesses and hundreds of deaths nationwide. Horses and some species of birds have successfully been vaccinated against the virus. But this is the first vaccine for humans. And scientists say it's safe because it's made from DNA, and not the virus itself.
A Vical representative says, "The vaccine doesn't use any part of the virus itself. That makes it very safe with no risk of getting infected from this vaccine."
It takes about 12 weeks for Vical scientists to develop a batch of the vaccine. But they expect that it will be another few years before it's available for public use. So avoiding mosquito bites is still your best protection against West Nile infection.
Watch for standing water, and that includes buckets, potted plants, toys, tarps, and an almost endless list. Anything that is going to hold water for more than a week is a risk for breeding mosquitoes.
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Should I have posted this in the regional off topic forum?
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Originally Posted by the jello is jigglin
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