Ebola vaccine may be 'up to 100% effective': WHO

Yahoo – AFP, Marlowe Hood, December 23, 2016

In a major clinical trial, nearly 6,000 people in Guinea were given the test vaccine
last year, at the tail end of a lethal epidemic of Ebola and non of them contracted
the disease (AFP Photo/CELLOU BINANI)

Paris (AFP) - A prototype vaccine for Ebola may be "up to 100 percent effective" in protecting against the deadly virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday.

If all goes well, the vaccine could become available in 2018 under a fast-track approval process, it said.

In a major clinical trial, nearly 6,000 people in Guinea were given the test vaccine last year, at the tail end of a lethal epidemic of Ebola.

Not one of the 6,000 contracted the disease.

But in a control group of volunteers that did not receive the vaccine, 23 Ebola cases occurred, researchers reported in The Lancet medical journal.

"If we compare zero to 23, this strongly suggests that the vaccine is very effective, that it could be up to 100 percent effective," Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO's assistant director-general and lead author of the study, told AFP.

Her team of three dozen researchers calculated a 90-percent likelihood during a full-fledged epidemic that the vaccine, dubbed rVSV-ZEBOV, would work in more than 80 percent of cases.

"After 40 years, we appear to now have an effective vaccine for Ebola virus disease to build upon," Thomas Geisbert, a scientist at Galveston National Laboratory in Texas who did not take part in the study, wrote in a commentary, also in The Lancet.

Factfile on how the Ebola virus attacks (AFP Photo/John Saeki/Adrian Leung)

'Compassionate use'

First identified in 1976 in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Ebola virus erupted periodically in outbreaks of up to a couple hundred cases, mainly across west and east Africa.

In early 2014, however, a handful of infections in southern Guinea mushroomed rapidly into an epidemic.

Over the next two years, more than 28,000 people fell ill, mainly in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Some 11,300 died.

With a mortality rate above 40 percent, the disease -- one of a category of so-called haemorrhagic fevers -- has an incubation period of up to three weeks. It causes violent and painful symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhoea, organ failure and internal bleeding.

The new vaccine was initially developed in Canada by public health authorities before being taken over by pharmaceutical giant Merck.

It is slated to be submitted by Merck to health authorities in the United States and Europe sometime next year under a fast-track approval process.

"We may have a vaccine which is registered in 2018," Kieny told journalists at a press conference Thursday, noting that the standard approval process for a new drug takes a decade, if not more.

In the meantime, Merck has committed to ensuring that 300,000 doses of the vaccine are available for emergencies under a protocol called "compassionate use".

"They will be able to produce a million in very short period of time," Kieny noted.

Of the more than 6,000 people injected with the Ebola vaccine only two showed 

serious adverse effects, the study reported, both recovered fully (AFP Photo/

CELLOU BINANI)

Unanswered questions

There are still questions to be resolved concerning the vaccine, including side effects.

Initial tests last year did not include children, while the most recent trials covered those over six years old.

Of the more than 6,000 people injected with the Ebola vaccine only two showed serious adverse effects, the study reported. Both recovered fully.

But it is still unknown if the vaccine is safe for children six and under, pregnant women, or people with the AIDS virus -- all groups that were excluded from the most recent trials.

Another unknown is how long innoculation lasts.

"With the Canadian Merck vaccine, you have a protection very early after vaccination, but we don't know if it will last after six months," Kieny said.

Other Ebola vaccines under development -- some of which have been tested in humans -- could prove more effective over a longer period.

British firm Glaxosmithkline and Johnson & Johnson, based in the United States, each have experimental products in the pipeline.

China and Russia have also developed vaccines, with the Russian one having just finished the second phase of three-step clinical trials.

Some of these vaccines require two doses three weeks apart, and may confer a longer immunity.

"That might be better suited to immunise health workers in advance of an outbreak," Kieny said.

Health officials also point to the fact that other strains of the virus -- including one in Sudan -- will require the development of separate vaccines.

Health workers assist a patient suspected of having Ebola on their way to a

 treatment centre run by the French Red Cross in Patrice, Guinea, on

November 21, 2014 (AFP Photo/Kenzo Tribouillard)

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"Revelations of Darkness" - Oct 1, 2014 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Carroll) - (Text version)

“ .. The Role of Gaia in Human Consciousness

One of those times might be frightening for you to know about, since it was a full cooperation with Gaia for your termination, and a pandemic almost wiped humanity off the map. A pandemic! Now, you say, "What has that got to do with Human consciousness, Kryon?" Pay attention, dear ones, because this is the day where the teaching was given by my partner, and he put together the Nine Human Attributes. One of the attribute sets included three Gaia attributes and one of them was the consciousness of the planet. Gaia is related to Human consciousness!

Are you starting to connect the dots? You are connected to this planet in a profound and spiritual way. As goes humanity goes the planet's consciousness. Gaia, Mother Nature, whatever you want to call it, cooperates with Human consciousness. If you spend 1,000 years killing each other, then Gaia will do its best to cooperate with your desires! Gaia will look at Human consciousness and try to help with what you have shown you like to do! Did you know this role of Gaia with you? It's a partner with you, fast tracking what you give to it. You may wish to review what the indigenous of the planet still understand. Gaia is a partner!

Pandemic: Don't you find it odd that in the last 50 years, when you have a population of seven billion Human Beings, with up to 2,000 airplanes in the air at any given moment, going between almost every conceivable place, that there has not been a pandemic in your lifetime? There have been five starts of potential pandemics over the last 20 years, yet none became serious. Did any of you put this together? Dear ones, when the world was far less populated a few hundred years ago, with no mass travel to spread a virus, there were still millions wiped out by a pandemic. With the increased population and mass travel, there is far more danger today than before. It doesn't make sense, does it? What happened to stop it?

When you know humanity's relationship to Gaia, it makes sense. Gaia is a life-force that is your partner, watching you change the balance of light and dark and reflecting what Humans want. It has polarity, too! Perhaps it's time to start your meditations with thanking your planet Earth for supporting you in the spirituality of your Akash, for always being with you, a life-force that is always present. The ancients started their ceremonies in that way. Have you forgotten?

Ebola

Now, I've just set the stage for the next subject, haven't I? Ebola. Are you afraid yet? Gaia is a life-force that is a part of Human consciousness. My partner put it on the screen today so you could see the connections [during the lecture series]. Now it's time to connect the dots. Dear one, Gaia is in the battle, too, for here comes something scary that you haven't had in your lifetime and you're afraid of it - the potential of a pandemic on the planet.

There's a very famous film that has some dialogue that my partner will quote. Some of you will know it and some of you won't, but here it is: "Have a little fire, scarecrow?" What are you afraid of? Darkness? Gaia is in the battle with you and is actively pursuing solutions through light. The energy of the planet is with you in this fight! The ebola virus is a shock and a surprise. It is propelled by ignorance and fear, so it can flourish. Look at where it started and look at how it gets its ability to continue. It expands its fear and power easily with those who believe it's a curse instead of those who understand the science.

Villages are filled with those who refuse to leave their family members because they believe the disease is a curse! FEAR! Instead of understanding that they should be in isolation from the virus, the family dies together through ignorance and fear. This represents how darkness works. Are you going to become afraid also? Dear ones, ebola will be conquered. Know this and be at peace. Pray for light for those in the villages who are afraid, that they can know more about how to keep the spread of this disease and live to see their families. .”

Canada expels Eritrea envoy over expat fees claims

BBC News, 29 May 2013

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Canada has previously warned the consul
against collecting the funds from Eritrean
expatriates

Canada has ordered an Eritrean envoy to leave the country following claims he demanded contributions from expatriates to fund Eritrea's military.

Semere Ghebremariam Micael, head of the Eritrean Consulate General in Toronto, has been under investigation for the practice.

It is in breach of both UN sanctions against Eritrea and Canadian law, the Canadian government said.

Mr Micael has been given until on 5 June to leave.

Warned previously

"Canada has taken steps to expel (declare persona non grata) Mr Semere Ghebremariam O Micael, consul and head of the Eritrean Consulate General in Toronto, effective immediately," Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Today's actions speak for themselves," he added.

The dispute centres on the African nation's efforts to impose a 2% "diaspora tax" and "national defence" fee on Eritreans living abroad.

The UN Security Council toughened sanctions against Eritrea in December 2011 over its alleged support for Islamist militant groups such as Somalia's al-Shabab. The sanctions include a block on remittance tax imposed on nationals overseas.

Mr Michael has previously been warned against collecting funds from Eritrean expatriates living in Canada. The consul said it would comply with the Canadian government's ruling in September.

But recent reports said Mr Michael had again started demanding the payments.

"You have to go to the consulate and they arrange how you have to pay the money," one Eritrean in Toronto, who asked not to be named, told Canadian broadcaster CBC.

"They want 2%… they don't give you a reason. You have to pay the money," he said.

"My family [in Eritrea] would get in trouble if I don't pay."

Mr Michael has denied breaking the law, saying he was merely providing "information" to those who want to donate, according to Canada's National Post.

Tunisia asks Canada to arrest ex-president's brother

BBC News, 28 January 2011

Tunisia has asked Canadian authorities to arrest Belhassen Trabelsi, the brother-in-law of former Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.

Canadian police inspected a hotel in Montreal from
which it is believed Mr Trabelsi fled on Thursday

Canada has revoked Mr Trabelsi's residency permit, which Canadian officials say he failed to maintain.

Mr Trabelsi and his family reportedly arrived in the city of Montreal on a private jet last week after Mr Ben Ali was ousted from power.

Protests forced Mr Ben Ali, his family and associates to leave Tunisia.

"The embassy here in Ottawa has today officially asked Canadian authorities to arrest Belhassen Trabelsi," embassy adviser Nejmeddine Lakhal told the BBC on Friday.

'On the run'

Mouldi Sakri, Tunisia's ambassador to Canada, also told local media that Tunisia had asked Canada to issue an arrest warrant against Mr Trabelsi to help bring him to justice in Tunisia.

It is believed Mr Trabelsi and his family fled the Chateau Vaudreuil Suites Hotel in Montreal on Thursday, and their whereabouts remain unknown.

It is unclear how long Mr Trabelsi had residency status, which allows non-Canadian citizens to live in the country and can require a lengthy application process.

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Mr Ben Ali, who was president for 23 years, was forced from power this month by a series of protests against poverty and corruption.

The former president fled with his wife to Saudi Arabia.

Interpol also issued an alert for the arrest of Mr Ben Ali and his family on request from Tunisia.

The international police agency said member states had been asked to "search, locate and provisionally arrest Mr Ali and his relatives".

But Canadian authorities did not act, saying the request did not constitute an arrest warrant.

"The Canadian law enforcement agency of jurisdiction would only become involved once an official request to investigate has been received through the Interpol network or other formal channels," Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokeswoman Lucy Shorey said earlier this week.

The Tunisian embassy in Ottawa said it had not yet received a response to its request for the arrest Mr Trabelsi.

During a recent trip to Morocco, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said members of Tunisia's former regime were not welcome in Canada.

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Tunisians in Canada celebrate sudden departure of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali

Antara News, Monday, January 17, 2011

Montreal (ANTARA News/AFP) - Tunisians took to the streets of Montreal on Saturday, waving their country`s flag and singing their national anthem to celebrate the sudden departure of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

More than 1,000 Tunisians braved the frigid Canadian winter to mark the historic event and to honor countrymen who died during the "Jasmine Revolution," which forced Ben Ali to flee to Saudi Arabia on Friday in the face of protests against his 23-year rule.

Achour Ghrib, 40, sings his national anthem for sports events, but this was different.

"It`s the first time I sing it this way, the first time that I feel that I am Tunisian," said Ghrib, who moved to Canada just over a year ago.

Some chanted "you want 2014," referring to Ben Ali`s desire to remain in office, "they said the 14th," a reference to the date Friday when the leader fled the country.

Many parents brought their children, some in strollers. It was 20-month-old Myriam`s first such event, and dad`s too. Mohamed Najib, 37, came to celebrate "this second independence" -- the first was from France in 1956.

Nizar Bessi, a 19-year-old who came to Canada just a few months ago, carried a sign that said "America: Yes we can, Tunisia: Yes, we do," and then told an AFP journalist "Yes, we did!" He is studying cinematography and wants to return to Tunisia when he`s finished.

Other placards read "The people united will never be defeated," and "Fight for social justice in Tunisia." Some asked where they can find Ben Ali`s daughter, who bought, with her husband, a house in Montreal.

At the conclusion of the event, the celebrants observed a minute of silence at the Tunisian consulate.

In Quebec, about 200 people held a similar event. An estimated 17,000 Tunisians live in Canada.