Vaccine Shows Promise in MAID Clinical Trial.

• Position: MOSQUITO-BORNE VIRUSES 1

A vaccine for eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV), and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) was found to be safe and well-tolerated while inducing a neutralizing antibody response in adult volunteers, according to results from a Phase 1 clinical trial.

The vaccine candidate was developed by scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Vaccine Research Center. The clinical trial was conducted at the Emory University Vaccine Center's Hope Clinic, Atlanta, Ga.

EEEV, WEEV, and VEEV are spread to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. Horses also are susceptible to infection, but they cannot transmit the viruses directly to humans. Infections in humans can lead to flu-like symptoms and, in some cases, severe neurological damage or death. The viruses have caused recurrent, small outbreaks in North, Central, and South America...