GloPID-R mobilised on current yellow fever outbreak

With a total number of reported cases above 2,000, more than 200 deaths, several cases exported to various countries in Africa and Asia, and a risk of temporary shortage of available vaccines, the outbreak of yellow fever that started in Angola could present a major challenge.

GloPID-R members were therefore mobilised on May 17th to discuss the current yellow fever outbreak. The Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) was asked to provide a first opinion on possible research needs and to reflect on a more general approach on arbovirus related outbreak risks.

Rapidly convened in two teleconferences the SAB members unanimously agreed that the single most important topic to fund is to identify the effect of smaller doses of vaccines on the immune response and its duration. They also identified other areas for immediate research or on-site capture of information and for increasing preparedness. These research priorities were ranked in a three-step scale and distributed to GloPID-R members.

In their meeting on July 7th, GloPID-R members subsequently agreed to set up a working group* to reflect on ongoing funding and research gaps including research on fractional dosing.

*Under the leadership of the Wellcome Trust, involving the WHO, the European Commission, the US Department of Health and Human Services, INSERM, Instituto Carlos III and DFID.