Rift valley fever future or investigational therapies
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aakash Hans, MD[2]
Overview
Overview
There are no first line drugs recommended for treatment of Rift valley fever as it is primarily a viral disease. Ribavirin showed promise initially by reducing the viral load, but was later found to be associated with adverse affects. Many vaccines are under the process of development, some of which may be used in both animals and humans. Until such vaccines are available, the public health departments in the endemic areas should consider using the available vaccines to keep the disease in check.
Future or investigational therapies
Future or investigational therapies
- Many vaccines are under investigational testing for use in livestock.[1]
- Some vaccines being developed may be safe to use in both animals and humans.
- Ribavirin showed promise in rodent models but was stopped after development of neurological symptoms in some of the patients it was administered during the RVF outbreak in Saudi Arabia in the year 2000. [2]
- Significant financial investment would be required to undergo vaccine development on a large scale.
References
References
- ↑ Njenga MK, Njagi L, Thumbi SM, et al. Randomized controlled field trial to assess the immunogenicity and safety of rift valley fever clone 13 vaccine in livestock. PLoS neglected tropical diseases. 2015 Mar;9(3):e0003550.
- ↑ Bird BH, Reynes JM, Nichol ST. Rift Valley Fever. In: Magill AJ, Strickland GT, Maguire JH, Ryan ET, Solomon T, editors. Hunter’s Tropical Medicine and Emerging Infectious Disease. 9. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2012.
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