Researchers have developed a “super-engineered” vaccine that could be a major turning point in the battle against polio.
The new vaccine aims to address the resurgence of vaccine-derived polio strains that have hampered global eradication efforts, researchers said in a study published in the journal Nature.
The vaccines, designed by Andrew Macadam and his team at the UK's National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, have demonstrated effectiveness in initial tests and are now undergoing human trials.
Since 1988, global efforts to eradicate polio have brought the world tantalisingly close to eliminating the disease.
The tenacity of these campaigns has led to the eradication of two of the three poliovirus subtypes and the significant containment of the third.
Over the past year, only 21 cases of wild polio were reported in children in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Mozambique.
However, an unexpected challenge has emerged on this path to eradication – vaccine-derived polio.
Despite the overall success in combating wild polio, there were 665 cases of this strain across 23 countries in the past year alone.
This occurs when the weakened poliovirus used in oral vaccines regains its virulence and begins causing the very disease it was meant to prevent.
Addressing this resurgence, the newly developed vaccines employ genetic engineering to significantly lower the risk of the attenuated virus reverting to a virulent state.
More than 650 million children in 30 countries have received the nOPV2 vaccine, a predecessor to these latest vaccines, since March 2021.
Although more genetically stable, it has regained virulence on four separate occasions, underscoring that the fight against polio requires more than scientific advancements alone – it necessitates comprehensive public health initiatives.
Notably, vaccine-derived polio cases are particularly prevalent in under-immunised communities.
These outbreaks have largely been seen in sub-Saharan Africa, though traces have been found in the UK, Canada, Israel and the US.
Factors such as the Covid-19 pandemic, which hindered vaccination campaigns, and conflicts in polio-vulnerable countries have contributed to this rise in cases.
As these challenges are tackled, the global management of polio is transitioning.
The responsibility is shifting from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, based in Geneva, to national immunisation and disease-surveillance programmes.
Despite some hiccups in this transition, the World Health Organisation is enacting a more nuanced, country-specific approach to ensure that this handover does not undermine the significant progress already achieved.
Joseph Swan, a representative from the WHO and the GPEI, said: “Simply having these new and better tools will not get us over the finish line – vaccination, not just vaccines, is what will end polio.”
Even with the breakthroughs, complete polio eradication remains a complex endeavour, particularly in the world's poorest and most conflict-ridden regions.
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Intruder
Director: Deon Taylor
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Michael Ealy, Meagan Good
One star
UAE gold medallists:
Omar Al Suweidi (46kg), Khaled Al Shehhi (50kg), Khalifa Humaid Al Kaabi (60kg), Omar Al Fadhli (62kg), Mohammed Ali Al Suweidi (66kg), Omar Ahmed Al Hosani (73), all in the U18’s, and Khalid Eskandar Al Blooshi (56kg) in the U21s.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company Profile
Name: JustClean
Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries
Launch year: 2016
Number of employees: 130
Sector: online laundry service
Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding
88 Video's most popular rentals
Avengers 3: Infinity War: an American superhero film released in 2018 and based on the Marvel Comics story.
Sholay: a 1975 Indian action-adventure film. It follows the adventures of two criminals hired by police to catch a vagabond. The film was panned on release but is now considered a classic.
Lucifer: is a 2019 Malayalam-language action film. It dives into the gritty world of Kerala’s politics and has become one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
HOW TO WATCH
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2019 BMW X4
Price, base / as tested: Dh276,675 / Dh346,800
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged in-line six-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 354hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 1,550rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.0L / 100km
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
WORLD CUP SEMI-FINALS
England v New Zealand
(Saturday, 12pm UAE)
Wales v South Africa
(Sunday, 12pm, UAE)
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
