PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 363 - 18 May 2002

Haemorrhagic fever viruses: urgentneed for drugs, vaccines

There is an urgent need for the development of newvaccines and antiviral drugs that will be effective againsthaemorrhagic fever viruses (HFVs), according to arecently released report from the US-based WorkingGroup on Civilian Biodefense.*

The report reviews and updates consensus-basedrecommendations for management following the use ofHFVs, such as the Ebola, Marburg, Rift Valley and YellowFever viruses, as biological weapons against a civilianpopulation.

Effective prophylaxis following exposure to an HFV iscurrently hampered by the absence of vaccines andantiviral medications, says the report. There arecurrently no antiviral drugs approved by the FDA for thetreatment of HFV infections, and only the yellow feverlive attenuated 17D vaccine is licenced for use.However, production of this vaccine is limited and worldstocks are insufficient to meet demand in the event of anoutbreak. The vaccine is also ineffective post-exposure.

Further research that will facilitate understanding ofthe mechanisms of disease transmission in humanoutbreaks of HFV infections, and clarify the role ofairborne transmission, is vital, says the report. Newantiviral therapies for the treatment of all HFVs shouldbe developed in addition to methods that will allowrapid and accurate diagnosis of infection.

Finally, the report makes specific recommendationsregarding diagnosis of HFV infections, treatment,postexposure prophylaxis and infection control.* The working group comprised 26 representatives from academicmedical centres, government, military, public health and emergencymanagement institutions and agencies.

Borio L, et al. Hemorrhagic fever viruses as biological weapons: medical andpublic health management. JAMA: the Journal of the American MedicalAssociation 287: 2391-2405, 8 May 2002 800896942

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PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 18 May 2002 No. 3631173-5503/10/0363-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved