British scientists have developed a new vaccine for foot and mouth disease, a highly contagious and sometimes fatal virus that affects livestock.
A better vaccine
The current vaccine is expensive to make because it relies on live viruses. Plus, the current vaccine has to be stored in refrigerated units. The new vaccine deals with both of these problems. British scientists have found a way to use a virus shell and it no longer requires refrigeration.
This new vaccine could make it easier for impoverished countries to get the vaccine, according to Medical News Today.
A contagious disease
Once one animal is infected with foot and mouth disease, it doesn’t take long for it to spread.
“It spreads like wild fire,” said David Stuart, a professor of biology at the University of Oxford, who led the research.
However, this new vaccine could cut down on the number of outbreaks each year.
“One of the big advantages is that since it is not derived from live virus, the production facility requires no special containment,” Stuart told Fox News.
“One could imagine local plants being set up in large parts of the world where foot and mouth is endemic and where it still remains a huge problem.”
An outbreak in Britain in 2001 sparked debate about the need for a new vaccine. Millions of dollars were spent trying to control the outbreak. After that, the British government decided there should be a renewed focus on a better foot and mouth vaccine.
Future developments
The use of an empty-shelled virus could help researchers develop other vaccines. Researchers have tried to make vaccines from shells in the past, but had trouble keeping the compound stable. This new approach solves that problem and opens other possibilities to create vaccines.
